Since the installment of Lehigh’s 14th president John D. Simon on July 1, 2015, the university has seen a turnover in many administrative offices, as well as the creation of several new positions.
Below are summaries of many of the major changes that have taken place within Lehigh’s administrative offices over the past two years.
Dean of Students Office/Student Affairs
Allison Gulati, who had served as the associate dean of students and director of strategic initiatives, left in August after 13 years at Lehigh. In July, Katherine Lavinder transitioned from the role of associate dean of academic life and student transitions to the position of interim dean of students.
Sharon Basso, the former associate vice provost of Student Affairs and dean of students, left Lehigh in May after 27 years. Formerly the director of Counseling and Psychological Services, Ian Birky assumed the role of interim vice provost for Student Affairs in May following the retirement of John Smeaton after his 32 years at Lehigh.
In July 2015, Kate Colyer assumed the inaugural position of assistant director of the Community Service Office and Katie Robinson was appointed the new director of the Center for Academic Success.
Barbara Ryan Hausman assumed the role of director of Learning Disability Support Services in June 2015.
Formerly a staff psychologist in the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services, Laurie Gray Evans was named the full-time director of student support and case management services at the start of the 2015-16 academic year.
Admissions & Financial Aid
In August, J. Leon Washington left Lehigh after serving nine years as vice provost of admissions and financial aid. Bruce Bunnick, the former director of admissions, assumed the role of interim vice provost of admissions and financial aid.
Office of Residence Life
In July 2015, Amanda (Gilmore) Slichter, Sarah Thompson and Lou Gardiner were hired as assistant directors of Residence Life. Ashley Lemmons assumed the role of assistant dean and director of Residence Life in August 2015. Courtney Stephens was named the associate director of Residence Life at the start of the 2015-16 academic year.
Office of Student Leadership Development
In July, Carter Gilbert, formerly the assistant director in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, assumed the role of assistant director of Greek leadership.
Zach Brown was named the new assistant director of Greek leadership development in August 2015, replacing Stephanie Burke, who transitioned to the position of assistant dean and director of the First-Year Experience.
At the start of the 2015-16 academic year, Christina Jordan assumed the role of assistant director of Student Leadership Development and Anna Patterson, ‘13, a former women’s lacrosse team captain, was named assistant director of Athletics Leadership Development. Julie Ammary, ‘07, was appointed director of athletics leadership at the start of the 2015-16 academic year.
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs
In July, Carter Gilbert, a former assistant director in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, assumed the role of assistant director of Greek leadership in the Office of Leadership Development.
Liz Shayler, who was also an assistant director of the OFSA, was promoted to associate director in July. That position was previously held by Ashley Baudouin, who had been promoted to assistant dean of students and director of the OFSA in February after serving as interim following the departure of Tim Wilkinson in June 2015. Brigette Gardner and Malcolm Daniel were both hired as new assistant directors of the office.
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Tyrone Russell, who served as the director of Multicultural Affairs for five years, left Lehigh in May 2016. Margarida Da Graca, formerly the assistant director of Multicultural Affairs, was promoted to interim director.
Pride Center
At the start of the 2015-16 academic year, Chelsea Fullerton was hired as the new director of Lehigh’s Pride Center, following the departure of Trish Boyles.
This March, Kim Ketterer, who had served as the coordinator of the Pride Center, announced that she would be leaving Lehigh after six years. Scott Burden was hired as the center’s first assistant director in July.
Office of International Affairs
In March, provost Pat Farrell announced that Cheryl Matherly was named Lehigh’s vice president and vice provost for international affairs, the result of a search following the resignation of Mohamed El-Aaser in February 2014.
Matherly’s appointment instigated a major restructuring of the office and its related programs.
Bill Hunter, who for 17 years served as the director of the Global Union, was promoted to the director of the Office of Fellowship Advising and UN Programs. He is also continuing his role as director of the LU/UN Partnership and manager of the Fulbright Association.
Clara Buie, the former assistant director of English as a second language, will move into the role of assistant director of Global Engagement, which includes the Global Union, after the fall semester.
Other changes in the Office of International Affairs: Stacy Burger was named the inaugural director of Global Partnership and Strategic Initiatives; Katie Welsh Radande, formerly the interim director of the Office of Study Abroad, is now the director of that office; and Alexis Leon was hired as the inaugural assistant director of the Iacocca International Internship Program. In addition, the OIA is in the process of hiring a new director of International Students and Scholars, and is initiating a search for a new director of ESL.
Mountaintop Initiative
Khanjan Mehta was named the inaugural vice provost for creative inquiry and director of Lehigh’s Mountaintop Initiative in August. His role, according to an article on Lehigh’s website, will be to “create and nurture a vibrant, unique learning environment where students, faculty and external partners can answer open-ended questions while working across disciplines.” Mehta will assume the new role Dec. 30.
Other administrative changes at Lehigh
- Robert Flowers, a professor in the chemistry department, was named the new deputy provost for faculty affairs, succeeding Vincent Munley. Flowers will officially assume the new role in Jan. 2017.
- Lee Kern, a professor of special education, was appointed the new director of the Center of Promoting Research to Practice. The position was previously held by Edward S. Shapiro, the center’s director and a professor of school psychology, until his passing in March.
- Joseph E. Buck was named Lehigh’s new vice president for development and alumni relations, assuming the position from deputy vice president John Welty, who held the interim role since February.
- Kristin Agatone stepped into the role of chief investment officer of the Lehigh University Endowment Fund, after the retirement of Peter M. Gilbert, who served in role since 2007.
- In March, Adrienne J. McNeil-Washington was named Lehigh’s assistant vice president of community relations, following the retirement of Dale Kochard after 11 years at Lehigh.
- Henry Zheng assumed the role of vice provost of institutional research April 29, following the retirement of J. Gary Lutz after nearly 45 years of service to Lehigh.
Comment policy
Comments posted to The Brown and White website are reviewed by a moderator before being approved. Incendiary speech or harassing language, including comments targeted at individuals, may be deemed unacceptable and not published. Spam and other soliciting will also be declined.
The Brown and White also reserves the right to not publish entirely anonymous comments.
4 Comments
Dear Editor,
Thank you for this coverage. The backstory is that a multitude of the former Lehigh personnel, especially those in the Dean of Students and Residential Life arena, inclusive of those with dual roles on the CEC, are implicated in the coverup of the UMOJA House racial crime of 2013. Students, faculty and staff reported that a multitude of individuals allegedly obstructed justice by their participation in non-response and or inappropriate response to the U House racial hate crime at both the time of the incident and the months following. The U.S. Department of Education conducted a nine month investigation into the incident for a racially hostile environment. The Department continues monitoring at Lehigh, this now a total of 2 1/2 years. Leading the charge in inappropriate and non response back in November 2013 were Smeaton, Basso and Guiotti. Lehigh failed to sanction the perpetrator until 6 months later, even though his identity and materials used in the act of hate were found days later.
Civil Rights opened the investigation on Monday, January 6, 2014. President Allison Gast resigned on Friday, January 4, 2014. The football coach who reported finding the materials used in the hate crime attack was fired from Lehigh that same week, as was his wife. The couple had been at Lehigh for over a decade and Coach had brought the Lehigh football team to Championship status.
The resignations and terminations of the list of personnel you report is glorious. Justice is served, our system of government works, and the U.S.Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights Philadelphia is the jam. Let’s take our heads out of the sand Lehigh administration, get out of your own way and end the insular environment of the fifties. Take some lessons from the student body who can lead the way.
Bravo Brown and White for your journalistic integrity and your courage in telling the story and seeking the truth. I await the resignation of Patrick Farrell and Attorney Heather Hosfeld.
Respectfully,
Susan Magaziner, M.A., BCEA
Lehigh Class of 1977
I’d be very curious to see your proof of all of these statements in your comment. Many of the changing positions seem to be due to people moving on to other colleges, and I think these changes in administration are more likely due to normal turnover or an overall change in vision than some theory that they all resigned because of a scandal. Correlation does not imply causation. I too would like to know WHY these changes occurred rather than just being told what they were, but I won’t believe a word of a conspiracy theory without proof.
This does not explain to me why so many people have left – just who the new ones are. I am still concerned as to the why… When you see this many folks leave you have to ask were they running away to distance themselves or were they pushed out for a new vision. As a parent I feel I have the right to know.
Dear Concerned Parent,
Yes, for certain you have a right to know. Not only are you your student’s first and greatest advocate, but you are their lifeline. I commend you for reading and for asking this question.
The answer is broad, because there are many reasons why individuals leave positions in academia or corporate life. Rarely is the truth revealed. Keep in mind that as in all things, we must realize that two things drive a business: money and legal liability. It is the job of General Counsel to keep us out of harm’s way, and it is the job of the school to keep our reputation and rankings superior. So to what end do we tell the truth when so much is at risk? And when we have violated our truest selves, perhaps all of these people leaving can teach us an invaluable lesson. As a parent, you should be concerned and you must become involved. I commend you for being spot on and for your inquiry. Although it is doubtful that the truth will ever be known, this is what I can tell you:
I am LEHIGH Class of 1977. I was one of the first “co-ed” classes of Lehigh University. And I love my school. Because I feel as I do, I noticed that something that happened on campus in 2013 was “not quite right” and I knew in my heart that certain populations of students were having difficulty assimilating and accessing their education. Because of this marginalization I stepped up and became the sole Complainant in a federal case at Lehigh, where I asked the Department to take a look and help us. Lehigh like many institutions is insular. The challenges we face our societal in nature and until we practice true Theory of Mind, change is difficult. We take ourselves with us where ever we go, and much of the problem is that our perspectives remain our own until we walk in the shoes of another. This is why it is more important that ever to have a global perspective and honor the collective soul. I am proud that Lehigh has risen to this challenge and that new leadership clearly respects diversity, transparency and authenticity. Would this be the case however without our beloved Civil Rights Attorneys who with passion and spirit work to change the impossible?
So back to your question: The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights stepped in to help in January 2014. Procedural safeguards are in place to protect populations who require intervention due to alleged violations in federal anti-discrimination law. If through the process of the investigation it was found that certain persons participated in non-compliant acts (of federal law or Lehigh Policy) this could prompt dismissal or resignation.I apologize that my post did not clearly explain why so many individuals at the University have left the school, because this would only be speculation. In reading the excellent coverage by our B&W we learn that these changes have happened over the “past two years”. I can tell you that the Philadelphia Office of Civil Rights has been working in collaboration with Lehigh for the past two and one-half years. An investigation was conducted for nine months, and the Department is committed to, in their words, rigorous monitoring since that time. The work involves achieving compliance to the extent of the Terms of a Resolution Agreement that Lehigh made with the federal office. Because OCR is still at Lehigh, this means the terms have yet to be satisfied. As such, we can only speculate as to why these personnel changes have occurred. Like any corporation perhaps some were found responsible for wrongdoing and asked to resign. For others, who lead their lives by values of integrity and principal, they may have found the environment to be in opposition to their professional code or standard of practice. Lastly, when there is a change in leadership, a shift in collaborative mindset and actions take place. You and I can only speculate, but yes, for certain, you as parent have a right to know. I would suggest you start this dialogue with those at Lehigh who can address your concerns.
For certain, I know that our system works and that dishonesty, double standards and discriminatory practice does not fly in the rule book of Philly OCR. Lehigh wants to shine, she is trying, and I commend those who work to this end. The power of our student journalists work on behalf of bringing issues to light, and truth to reign. They will find the answers you seek.
Dearest Parent, please start asking the difficult questions and lead the way. In the meantime, protect your student as the road to advocacy at Lehigh is a slippery slope.
Stay Strong.
Very Best,
Susan