The first time Tom Bartlett ’80 saw his future wife, Francesca “Fran” A. (Sturiale) Bartlett ’81, she was diving into a huge pot of spaghetti at his Theta Delta Chi fraternity dinner. “She was piling all the spaghetti and meatballs onto her plate,” remembers Tom, “and I thought, ‘This woman is awesome. I have to meet her.’” Tom walked up to Fran and introduced himself, and they’ve been together ever since.
For Tom, with a B.S. in industrial engineering, and Fran, who holds a B.S. in both finance and accounting, Lehigh University has always been so much more than an alma mater. It’s a family affair that spans three generations. Both of their fathers were alumni; Fran’s dad, Phillip Sturiale '52, was an electrical engineering student, and Tom’s dad, Ralph Bartlett ’47, was an accounting major. Tom and Fran’s daughter, Brittany Bartlett ’11, earned B.A.s in environmental studies and political science.
In honor of their family and what Lehigh University has meant to them, the Bartletts have announced a new, $1 million+ gift, working closely with Jennifer Nelson ’90 ’92G ’22P ’23P ’25P, (associate vice president for principal gifts, planned giving, and family philanthropy) to thoughtfully sponsor areas that are most meaningful to them. “It’s very hard to decide because there are so many wonderful initiatives at Lehigh,” says Fran. “Jen worked with us to help decide which programs would make the biggest impact, and we really liked that a lot.”
The Bartletts designated a portion of their gift to the new and innovative Soaring Together Scholarship Program. The initiative was created in honor of 50 years of Lehigh coeducation, representing the university’s commitment to the success of Lehigh women and to building a community where everyone can thrive. It awards full-tuition scholarships along with enhanced access to experiential learning opportunities, alumni mentorships, and career and professional development support. Says Fran, who was named to the Lehigh University Board of Trustees in 2024, “Scholarships, especially now, are going to make the biggest impact, and Soaring Together is one of those programs.”
“And clearly, the connection to women at Lehigh is such an important component,” adds Tom.
Environmental studies is another initiative very important to Fran, Tom, and their daughter Brittany, a marine conservation scientist pursuing her Ph.D. at Oxford. Part of their gift will fund the Bartlett Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, with preference for students in earth and environmental sciences.
In addition to the scholarships, Fran and Tom are supporting the Lehigh Oceans Research Center, a consortium of researchers studying the ocean and the life within it, and Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, an interdisciplinary home for scholars researching worldwide humanitarian threats including wildfire risk, epidemics, and climate change. Says Fran, “We’re so glad the gift we made will focus on the ocean and the environment. This is something we want to be involved in.”
The Bartletts also included funds for the Clayton University Center renovation as well, a place on campus they both remember fondly. “The UC for me was a meeting place,” says Fran. “It was like my living room for all four years, even when I moved into my own apartment my senior year.”
It’s not just the programs that inspire the Bartletts, but also the grit and determination of the students who benefit from a Lehigh education that motivate them the most. “The thing about Lehigh and Lehigh students is that they are doers. They’re the practical, roll-up-your-sleeves people that get the work done in a positive way,” says Fran.
Hannah Null ’28 is that type of student. A year before becoming a Soaring Together Scholar, Null took a gap year internship in Israel. While there, the Israel-Hamas War broke out. “It was such a life-changing experience. It was terrifying,” Null remembers. Despite her fear, while most of her fellow students left their internships, Null decided to stay in Israel. “It was such a unique opportunity to help; I just couldn’t leave,” she says. Null was able to help with food and clothing for evacuees. “It was an indescribable experience.”
Null is applying that same tenacity and resolve as a Soaring Together Scholar and is considering a career in civil engineering, with an emphasis on environmental issues. “Sustainability and environmental problems are so complex,” says Null. “That’s why it’s so important that through the program I’m able to talk to so many alumni who are working in environmental fields.” Null emphasizes that the alumni relationships are so much more than networking and getting a job. “Hearing about their experiences broadens my perspective and helps me to realize how I can utilize all of my interests and apply them to the real world.”
The Bartletts see that their gifts go directly to helping students like Null. “It’s not like we’re giving money and it’s being wasted away. It’s being used in very meaningful, quantifiable, and very measurable ways,” says Tom. “It’s a good use of the funds that we have [for] kids that want to get out there and work and make real change, not only in the environment, but in everything.”
