Appreciation. Pride. Belief.
Those three themes defined the 2025 Tower Society annual meeting and breakfast, held September 6 in the Wood Dining Room at Iacocca Conference Center.
The event offered Tower Society members the opportunity to hear from President Joseph J. Helble ’82 as he provided updates on the university’s strategy and achievements, and Jeremy Gibson, Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics, as he shared his vision for Lehigh Athletics.
The morning kicked off with Carl Henzelman III ’82, executive director of planned giving, welcoming members and thanking Michael Caruso ’67 for his past 14 years of leadership as chair of the Tower Society. He then welcomed the new chair, Kevin Clayton ’84 ’13P, who has been a Tower Society member since 2003.
“Kevin's commitment of time and resources to Lehigh is well known,” Henzelman said. “He served as trustee for 23 years, board chair for five years, and was interim president during the 2014–15 academic year. Kevin and his wife, Lisa [Clayton ’13P], have made numerous philanthropic gifts, including an endowed scholarship in honor of his parents, an endowed deanship in the College of Business, and the founding gift to lead the renovations of Clayton University [Center] at Packer Hall.”
Clayton used his time at the podium to reflect on what Lehigh had given him and the other alumni in the room: something more than knowledge, lifelong friendships, and professional success.
It was a legacy.
“Around us are the names of alumni who didn’t just believe in Lehigh, they made Lehigh,” he said. “All of us here today understand the roles we play in sustaining the legacy of this institution.”
He put that into perspective by considering the success of the GO Beyond campaign.
Planned gifts represent approximately $400 million of the billion-dollar milestone that the campaign recently surpassed. Last year, planned gifts accounted for a little over $41 million of the more than $90 million raised.
After expressing his sincere thanks, he acknowledged that the success in planned giving was “proof of the energy and belief in Lehigh’s future.”
Helble outlined the institution’s future and identified several key points to illustrate its trajectory and momentum.
In the third year of implementing the Inspiring the Future Makers strategy, Helble discussed the growth in research expenditures; the elevation to R1, the highest status by the Carnegie Foundation; and the three University Research Centers — the Center for Catastrophe Modeling, the Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions, and the Center for Community-Driven Assistive Technologies.
He shared the new intercollege majors and programs, including a pilot program for first-year students that provides them with broad exposure to curriculum across colleges and the ability to pursue any direction for their undergraduate education.
He pointed out that interest in Lehigh is at an all-time high; the university had another large applicant pool, more than 19,000 applications, and an admission rate of 29%. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, and 18% are first-generation students. One hundred seventy-seven (177) students are benefiting from the Lehigh Commitment, which offers a full-tuition scholarship for anyone who comes from a household income of less than $75,000 a year.
“The message is that we are attracting the best and the brightest regardless of their socioeconomic background and regardless of whether or not their parents have gone to college,” he said. “We are attracting talent from around the commonwealth, around the country, and around the globe.”
Helble emphasized Lehigh’s recognition for student outcomes, noting its placement in outcomes-based rankings, including LinkedIn (#17) and The Wall Street Journal (#15). Payscale ranks Lehigh #12 nationally for salary outcomes and #1 for the College of Business.
Lastly, he highlighted the economic impact Lehigh makes across the Lehigh Valley. In 2023–24, Lehigh was responsible for $1.4 billion in economic activity.
He expressed his deep appreciation, followed by encouragement to remain active.
“Spread the word. Be a great ambassador. Share the story of all that is happening at Lehigh with everyone that you know. Mentor students. Open doors. Listen to alumni who look to you for guidance. Stay in touch. Come to lectures, arts, and sporting events,” he said.
Gibson then addressed the crowd, recognizing that Lehigh gave them a foundation and a set of principles to approach the world, principles that combine intellectual rigor with personal grit.
He sees that grit each day in the coaches and student-athletes as they lead teams with humility and heart. Lehigh competes across 26 Division I sports, including the newest varsity sport: women’s wrestling.
“Our athletes are not just representing Lehigh on the scoreboard,” he said. “They're reflecting Lehigh's values, integrity, teamwork, perseverance, and service on every stage they stand upon.”
Gibson, with his 27 years in college athletics, knows the power of competition.
“We create moments of unity, emotion, belonging, and intense pride,” he said.
He acknowledged that Tower Society members’ support helps attract and retain student-athletes who choose Lehigh because they “want to win with character, pursue excellence in everything they do, and become ambassadors for this institution’s highest ideals.”
He said that belief in Lehigh will shape the future.
“Potential doesn't fulfill itself. It needs vision, it needs investment, and it needs leadership. Ultimately, it needs belief. And that's where your belief and support matter,” he said. “Your bequests and endowed funds give us the fuel to do what cannot be done with grit alone. Your support allows us to recruit and retain exceptional student-athletes, to invest in coaches who shape lives, to upgrade facilities that foster competition and community, and to expand the reach of Lehigh Athletics in ways that ignite engagement across generations.”
