Lehigh University is mourning the loss of Alice P. Gast, the institution's 13th president and the first woman to hold the position. Gast passed away on October 27 at the age of 67 after a nearly four-year battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a significant legacy of innovation and growth at the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, university.
Serving from 2006 to 2014, Gast is remembered as a transformative leader who guided Lehigh through a period of substantial academic and physical expansion. Her tenure was marked by a new strategic plan, a successful capital campaign, and the development of key campus initiatives that continue to shape the university today.
Key Takeaways
- Alice P. Gast, Lehigh University's first female president, has died at 67.
- She led the university from 2006 to 2014, a period of significant growth and innovation.
- Key achievements include the Mountaintop initiative, the Iacocca International Internship Program, and a $500 million capital campaign.
- Gast was a renowned chemical engineer with prior roles at MIT and Stanford University.
- Current Lehigh President Joseph Helble described her as a "brilliant chemical engineer and scholar" who was a steadfast champion for the university.
A Pioneer in Higher Education
Alice P. Gast broke new ground when she was appointed Lehigh University's 13th president in 2006, becoming the first woman to lead the institution in its history. Her arrival marked a new era for the university, bringing a fresh perspective rooted in a distinguished academic career.
Before her presidency at Lehigh, Gast had already established herself as a prominent figure in science and academia. She spent nearly two decades as a professor of chemical engineering at Stanford University. Following her time at Stanford, she took on a significant administrative role as the vice president for research and associate provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
A Distinguished Career Path
Gast's journey through some of the nation's top academic institutions provided her with a unique perspective on research and innovation. Her experience at both Stanford and MIT heavily influenced her vision for Lehigh, where she sought to elevate the university's research profile and interdisciplinary studies.
Her leadership was not confined to one institution. After her impactful tenure at Lehigh concluded in 2014, Gast moved across the Atlantic to become the president of Imperial College London, one of the world's leading universities for science, engineering, medicine, and business. She served in that role until 2022, further cementing her reputation as a global leader in higher education.
Forging a Strategic Vision for Lehigh
One of Gast's most enduring legacies was her ability to unite the campus community behind a common goal. Soon after her arrival, she initiated the university's first comprehensive strategic plan, a collaborative effort designed to identify and bolster areas of academic and research excellence.
Current Lehigh President Joseph Helble noted the plan's forward-thinking approach. He explained that it focused on positioning Lehigh to make significant contributions in emerging fields and preparing students for the jobs of the future.
"What it really focused on, first and foremost, was identifying opportunities for research and scholarly excellence, areas where Lehigh was positioned to make important contributions, and areas we needed to develop to give our students the opportunity to get educated in and prepare for jobs in areas that would be of increasing importance," Helble said.
This strategic vision was supported by a robust fundraising effort. Under Gast's leadership, the university successfully completed a $500 million capital campaign, providing the resources necessary to fund new programs, faculty positions, and infrastructure projects that brought her strategic goals to life.
Transforming the Campus Landscape
Gast's presidency was also a period of significant physical transformation for Lehigh University. She spearheaded projects that not only expanded the university's footprint but also redefined how its spaces were used for learning and innovation.
From Steel Mill to Innovation Hub
Perhaps the most visible of these projects was the Mountaintop initiative. This ambitious plan reimagined former Bethlehem Steel research facilities on the university's Mountaintop Campus, converting them into dynamic, open-ended spaces for student-led projects and interdisciplinary collaboration. The initiative transformed industrial relics into modern hubs for creativity.
Helble highlighted the impact of this redevelopment, pointing to specific examples of its success. "What's now known as Building C, where we have a drone lab, where our Art, Architecture and Design Lab has their programs, studios, classrooms that take full advantage of the three-dimensional space," he explained.
Another key development during her tenure was the construction of the STEPS building. The facility—whose name stands for Science, Technology, Environment, Policy and Society—was designed to be a center for interdisciplinary research, breaking down traditional academic silos and encouraging collaboration across different fields of study.
Expanding Global and Community Connections
Beyond physical and academic growth, Gast placed a strong emphasis on expanding Lehigh's engagement with both the local community and the world at large. She worked to strengthen ties between the university and the city of Bethlehem, increasing outreach and community-focused initiatives.
Simultaneously, she championed programs designed to give students a global perspective. A cornerstone of this effort was the Iacocca International Internship Program. Made possible by transformational support from legendary automotive executive and Lehigh alumnus Lee Iacocca, the program provides fully funded opportunities for students to gain work and research experience abroad.
- Strategic Plan: The first campus-wide strategic plan focused on research excellence.
- Capital Campaign: Successfully raised over $500 million for university initiatives.
- Mountaintop Initiative: Repurposed former industrial buildings for student innovation.
- Global Engagement: Launched the Iacocca International Internship Program.
Current university officials credit Gast with laying the groundwork for much of Lehigh's current success in global engagement and community partnership. Her vision extended beyond the campus borders, aiming to create students who were not only experts in their fields but also engaged global citizens.
In a statement, President Helble remembered her as a steadfast champion for the university's excellence in all areas. "She was such a leader. I think Lehigh was privileged to have her here," he said. While her passing marks the end of an era, Alice P. Gast's transformative impact on Lehigh University is set to endure for generations to come.