Renovations to the iconic Clayton University Center (UC) at Packer Hall are creating a dynamic environment for student life while preserving the building’s historic grandeur. Thank you to all the generous donors helping to make the Clayton UC a vibrant space for everyone in the Lehigh community.
When Gary Pan ’86 and his family were contemplating the best way to support the renovation of the Clayton University Center, a fire pit wasn’t something he had considered. But when the idea for the Pan Family Fire Pit was proposed, he warmed to the idea.
Gary, a Scouting America (Boy Scouts) Scoutmaster, is passionate about scouting, and all three of his sons, Garrett ’16, Wesley, and Mitchell, are Eagle Scouts. A fire pit that would welcome visitors to the Clayton UC seemed like the perfect way to honor his passion for Scouting, make a lasting legacy for his family, and create an iconic gathering space for generations of Lehigh students to come.
Gary and Garrett traveled to campus on a crisp spring morning to see the completed Pan Family Fire Pit for the first time.
“As a Scoutmaster, [I] love to gather around the fire,” Gary says, warming his hands by the flames. “Plus the location is amazing, and the fact that you can see the entire campus from here. It just touches every aspect of my experience at Lehigh.”
The fire pit was the only addition to the extensive renovations of the Clayton UC. Located on the northeast corner of the building, the front patio space was totally reimagined to create an inviting and fun entrance to Clayton UC.
The fire pit has already been fully embraced by the campus community with several events, and the students are welcome to enjoy its warmth and light during the hours that the Clayton UC is open.
Gary believes that gifts like the fire pit enhance the Lehigh experience for everyone. “I can envision during orientation activities or during a tour,” he says, taking in the beautiful panorama of the Asa Packer Campus, “that prospective students will be able to picture themselves here.”
Gary knows that is a real possibility because it happened to him. ”I stood in this same spot when I decided to come to Lehigh,” he says. “I never planned to go here, but I visited campus during Spring Fling. It was such a beautiful day, and students were throwing Frisbees and enjoying themselves on the lawn, and I thought, ‘This is where I want to be.’”
Engineering a Future of Success
Engineering was the path both Gary and Garrett took at Lehigh, coming from a family of engineers that included Gary’s father and uncles. “I was born to do that,” he says.
As an electrical engineering major with a minor in legal studies, Gary also thought engineering was a wise choice for success in life. “I felt that studying engineering would be vigorous and challenging (wicked hard), and that if I could survive that I could survive anything.”
For Gary, it’s no coincidence that Lehigh in Chinese means “intense.” “Going through something hard builds character. And it’s not about what happens to you, it’s what you do about it,” he says. “So recovery and survival is what you learn from that process.”
Garrett, who earned a BS in bioengineering, feels the same way. “I enjoyed bioengineering in high school, taking AP Bio. My dad always said, ‘Pick something you like to do, and make sure you do engineering so you can figure it out because with an engineering degree from Lehigh, you can do anything,’” he says.
Both Gary and Garrett have used their engineering skills in other business areas and found great success.
Gary is a Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin appointee and serves as the commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. He has also worked in government information technology contracting and consulting, and he has led two small businesses recognized by Inc. Magazine as among the top 100 fastest-growing private companies in America.
Garrett earned two master’s degrees at George Mason University, worked in bioengineering and IT management, and, like his dad, is putting his engineering skills to work as a government consultant.
Giving Back Takes Many Forms
In addition to supporting Lehigh philanthropically, Gary is a devoted alumnus who gives generously of his time.
“I was so shy in high school,” he remembers. “I knew coming to Lehigh was my four-year window of opportunity to reinvent myself. As the IFC judicial chair, Psi Upsilon undergraduate president, student Senate representative, Brown & White staff member, and campus servant leader, I worked closely with the Dean of Student Affairs John Smeaton and Dean of Students Mark Erickson, who helped me to build the toolbox of skills I needed to be an effective leader.”
Much like Smeaton and Erickson did for him, Gary is passing down his leadership skills to students. As the Psi Upsilon alumni adviser, Gary established the Greek Alumni Advisors Council, which consists of a network of dedicated fraternity and sorority alumni advisers who collaborate to mentor Lehigh chapters and students and provide guidance to the Greek community toward success on campus and beyond.
He also served on the Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science Dean’s Advisory Council (DAR), has hosted numerous Freshman Send-Offs, was a class outreach volunteer and Parents Council member, and belongs to many alumni organizations.
“I think that when we invest in things like the fire pit, it’s good for everyone,” says Gary. “But as an alumnus, I find that the investment of my personal energy, my time and talent, to help Lehigh move forward is the most rewarding.”
A New Place To Gather
The Pans are thrilled with the finished Pan Family Fire Pit, grateful for the partnership with Kelly Stazi, director of principal gifts, in bringing it to completion, and are most excited at the prospect of students, alumni, and the community gathering around the fire to share their stories, as his Scouts do.
As he and Garrett get warm by the fire, Gary adds, “Next time, we bring marshmallows.”
