Serendipity seemed inevitable for Steven Mendez ’83 and Kira Cauwels Mendez ’83. Both studied electrical engineering, played woodwind instruments in the Marching 97, and hailed from New Jersey. Although they ran in the same circles, it took until their senior year for them to really talk at a party.
They have been together ever since. Their lives have taken twists and turns, but Lehigh has remained a constant — a place for activities, philanthropy, meaning, and celebration.
The most meaningful connection? Even that answer seems elusive. It could be their vow renewal in Packer Chapel or the two endowed scholarships at the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Sciences to help pay forward what got their college careers started.
College Dreams
As a kid, Steven liked to make, break, and fix things … well, his brother’s things, including toys, bikes, electronics, and lawnmowers. He learned over time that these hands-on experiments were a way to channel his growing interest in math and science.
Kira was interested in a broader range of activities, including writing and music, as well as math and science. She attended a National Science Foundation electronics program as a high school junior, and the combination of theory and application had her hooked on electrical engineering.
To make Lehigh possible, both needed financial aid. While Steven received an aid package, Kira pieced together a full ride between a National Merit Scholarship, General Motors Scholar tuition award, and Lehigh trustee scholarship.
Steven began at Lehigh a year before Kira. His dual degree in biology and electrical engineering required five years. They first met when she visited campus as a high school senior during his first year at Lehigh. Music became their main outlet on campus. Both played with the Marching 97. Steven also played sax in the jazz band while Kira played clarinet in the classical ensembles.
Their lives often intersected through classes, classmates, and their circle of friends. She was one of seven women in a program of 100 students. Steven had work-study hours across campus, and Kira was a teaching assistant in the motors lab.
But they didn’t begin dating until they finally talked all night at a party on the Hill during their last semester. Both chose jobs at United Technologies’ Hamilton Standard division in Connecticut, and they married a year after graduation.
Wandering, Not Lost
While in their first roles, they each pursued a Master’s of Science in electrical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The couple then moved to Boston, where Kira began her MBA at Harvard Business School. They remained in Boston for 12 years — Kira worked for a consulting firm while Steven continued in electrical engineering. Both of their children were born there.
Then they returned to New Jersey so their kids could be closer to extended family. For 11 years, Steven worked in the medical device industry, putting his biology degree to use at what became Zimmer Biomet, an orthopedic medical technology firm. There, he focused on bone-growth stimulators.
Kira continued consulting, traveling around the country for projects and leading a nonprofit board. She often headed into New York City. Eventually, she joined Boston Consulting Group, where she led consulting services for the New York office.
When their kids got older, the couple moved to the Big Apple. For five years, Steven commuted back to New Jersey, often on his motorcycle. By that time, he had helped co-found ElectroCore, a bioelectronic medicine company that developed noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation therapies. Kira returned to client work as a partner at The Bridgespan Group, a social-sector strategy firm.
Lehigh. Revisited.
During their time in Boston, Kira attended a conference in New York City where the keynote speaker was her former Lehigh professor, Roger Nagel, who was then leading the Iacocca Institute. He told her about exciting campus initiatives and encouraged her to visit.
She took him up on that offer.
Returning to South Mountain wasn’t for nostalgia though. Kira found ways to contribute. She began by collaborating with the Iacocca Institute, helping design the Global Village.
Soon, she joined the engineering dean’s advisory board, followed by the Zoellner Advisory Council. Then she was a member of the Lehigh University Alumni Association and returned for a second term as its president. Whenever Lehigh asked, the answer was yes.
When the Iacocca Institute needed a leader, Kira became its director. What began as a two-year stint grew into six years, a period deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She retired in 2023 but continues to teach management classes in the College of Business.
The couple’s philanthropy at Lehigh grew naturally from Kira’s involvement and their shared interests. They were passionate about the construction of Zoellner Arts Center, hoping it would give musicians a dedicated place to practice and rehearse. Each year, they made gifts and divided them among several priorities — engineering, the Iacocca Institute, and Zoellner.
They eventually decided to make a more significant commitment: two charitable gift annuities to support scholarships in engineering.
“This is where we started,” says Steven.
“We wanted to focus on what brought us to Lehigh,” adds Kira. “We love Lehigh and its scrappy character. It’s a place where students get to tackle real-life, interdisciplinary work."
“We want to give to the next generation of students so they could have the same advantages,” says Steven.
This nonlinear life that brought them back to Lehigh has also been renewed at Lehigh. For their 40th wedding anniversary, Kira booked Packer Chapel for their actual anniversary date and surprised Steven with a vow renewal. Their son, daughter-in-law, and daughter, as well as extended family, their original wedding party, alumni friends, and Lehigh colleagues joined them for the ceremony and a champagne reception.
It was a toast to what was, what is, and what happened along the way … and to all that still lies ahead.
