Each year, the Lehigh University Alumni Association (LUAA) welcomes new board members nominated by their peers for their leadership, dedication, and school spirit. These individuals bring fresh perspectives and a shared commitment to strengthening the Lehigh community.
Recently, the LUAA board welcomed four new members — Kate Novak ’04 G’05, Adam Goldstein ’16 G’17, Ralph Jean-Noel ’15, and Jonathan Stiegler ’99.
Here is what a few of them have to say about joining the LUAA.
Why did you decide to join the board now?
I’ve been hoping to join the board for years, and this is the first year I was selected! The LUAA Board first made an impact on me when I founded the Association of Student Alumni (ASA) as a student. Our ASA board met with both the LUAA board and the Young Alumni Council (YAC), sat in on their meetings to see how they operated, and each of us was paired with a YAC mentor to help guide us through our first year as a new student organization.
After graduation, I joined YAC and served for two years until I aged out. Since then, I’ve stayed involved through Alumni Volunteers for Admissions, Reunion Committee, and attending events. But it was my ASA and YAC experience that really helped me understand how the pieces of alumni engagement fit together to sustain an institution like Lehigh. They reinforced my commitment to staying active in the Lehigh community long after graduation. The LUAA Board felt like the next natural step.
What part of your college experience still sticks with you?
Ron Yoshida, who was provost at the time, noticed me helping out at a few campus events and invited me and two friends to join him and his wife for sushi at The Dancing Fish as a thank you of sorts. The one condition was that we had to try everything they ordered, which was interesting as I’d never tried sushi before. Provost Yoshida followed through, and during that meal, he walked us through all of the etiquette for the dining experience as well as what we were actually eating so we wouldn’t feel out of place. Throughout the evening, we talked about Lehigh, what makes it special, and shared our background stories. It was one of those moments that made me feel genuinely seen and valued, and it’s an experience that I’ll never forget.
How can alumni make an impact on students today?
Show up and show out! Alumni are doing incredible things all over the world, so don’t be shy about repping your Lehigh gear and sharing your story as a proud alum. Prospective students need to see us and hear our stories, and current students need role models to see what their future can look like. You never know how your visibility might inspire an undecided senior or a recent graduate. Get back to campus when you can, and if you can't, connect with your local alumni network. Attend events or even help plan them! I unabashedly bleed brown and white, and while I may have made fun of this version of myself as a student, it turns out it’s exactly who I became, anyway!
Why did you decide to join the board now?
Over the years, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn back to the Lehigh community, both through friendships and professional connections. Joining the LUAA board now feels like the right way to give back in a more intentional way — by contributing my time, perspective, and experience to help shape alumni engagement. Lehigh played a huge role in my growth, and I want to help ensure current students and recent grads have the same opportunities to connect, explore, and thrive.
What part of your college experience still sticks with you?
A mix between the culture of a strong work ethic and the fun I experienced at Lehigh. Whether it was late-night study sessions or celebrating LeLaf with my close friends, I learned the value of working hard and enjoying life at the same time. Those experiences taught me that work-life integration is paramount, and that’s something I’ve carried into my career.
How can alumni make an impact on students today?
Alumni can have a tremendous impact simply by showing up through mentorship, speaking engagements, internship opportunities, or even informal coffee chats. For a student, seeing someone who once walked the same campus now thriving in their field can be transformative. It’s not just about sharing career advice, it’s about modeling resilience, curiosity, and community-mindedness.
Why did you decide to join the board now?
For a while, it was hard to feel connected from where I lived in Austin, Texas. I was far from the Northeast ecosystem, where most Lehigh events and energy lived. But a few years ago, I made a conscious decision to rewrite my relationship with Lehigh and use the distance to my advantage. I’ve always kept in touch with friends from my time as a student, stayed engaged through BALANCE, and built community with alumni I met along the way. When the opportunity came to help co-found and reignite the Lehigh Club of Austin, it was the perfect blend of everything I love: hosting, building community, and bringing people together. Rather than just noticing the gap, I decided to help close it. I found real joy in not only volunteering my time to plan events, but also reconnecting with students and alumni from across generations. That experience reignited my desire to get more involved, and joining the LUAA board felt like the natural next step.
What part of your college experience still sticks with you?
My student leadership experience. I was involved in a lot (and still am) because I believe in the potential of people and the power of community. As a student leader, I recognized the power of my own voice and how the work I did not only benefited my community at the time, but helped shape the experience for future generations of students. I became deeply committed to creating spaces for meaningful connection, cross-cultural engagement, and collective advocacy. That mindset stayed with me throughout my corporate journey at Meta, where I co-founded Meta Elevate and led national programs supporting millions of small businesses and creators. Now, as an entrepreneur and business advisor via my marketing agency, RJN Studios, I continue to draw on the values, skills, and servant leadership that were cultivated during my time at Lehigh. That foundation still informs how I show up today as a marketer, strategist, and community builder.
How can alumni make an impact on students today?
Start by staying connected. Reach out to the organizations you were part of. Offer internships if you can. Talk to professors. Support events. It doesn’t have to be a heavy lift, but if you can offer guidance, insight, or opportunity without burning out, do it. Students need to see alumni who’ve walked similar paths and are navigating real life with clarity and resilience. Ask yourself: What do you know now that you wish you knew then? Then find the students who reflect the version of yourself who needed that, and spread the message to as many as you can. That answer will transform lives and generations. We often go through what we go through not just for ourselves, but for the betterment of those around us.
