If you’ve ever ridden an escalator or driven a Chrysler, you’ve basically shook hands with a Lehigh grad. Honestly, for a school tucked away in the hills of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the footprint of Lehigh University notable alumni is kind of ridiculous. We’re talking about a place that isn’t an Ivy, yet its graduates have essentially built the modern world, from the literal steel in our skyscrapers to the way we buy things on American Express.
You might think of Lehigh as just a "top-tier engineering school," but that’s a pretty narrow lens. Sure, the engineering roots are deep—Asa Packer founded the place in 1865 specifically to fuel the industrial revolution—but the reach of its alumni spans from the NBA to the New York Stock Exchange. It’s a weirdly potent mix of grit and high-level strategy.
The Titans of Industry: More Than Just Blueprints
When people talk about Lehigh University notable alumni, the name Lee Iacocca usually comes up first. He’s basically the patron saint of the university’s engineering-meets-business vibe. Iacocca didn't just design cars; he saved the entire American auto industry. After getting fired from Ford (despite creating the Mustang), he took over a dying Chrysler and convinced the government to give them a loan. He paid it back early. That’s peak Lehigh energy.
But he isn’t the only one who turned a degree into a multibillion-dollar empire.
- Roger Penske ('59): You probably know him from the Penske Racing team or those yellow moving trucks. He’s a billionaire who basically owns the Indy 500 now. He’s the guy who took the "work hard" ethos of Bethlehem and turned it into a global logistics and motorsports powerhouse.
- Stacey Cunningham ('96): She became the first female president of the New York Stock Exchange. She actually started as an intern on the floor while she was still a student.
- James D. Robinson III ('56): He ran American Express for over a decade. If you have a card in your wallet, he probably had a hand in how that company functions today.
- Cathy Engelbert ('86): She was the CEO of Deloitte (the first woman to lead a Big Four firm) and now she’s the Commissioner of the WNBA.
It’s not just about titles, though. It’s about the sheer variety. You have people like Kevin Clayton, who was a big deal at Oaktree Capital, and Frank Rosch, the CEO of Imprivata. These aren't just names on a list; they are the people actually running the machinery of global commerce.
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From the Moon to the Hardwood
Engineering schools usually produce... well, engineers. But Lehigh has this strange habit of producing people who end up in the spotlight or literal outer space.
Take Terry Hart ('68). He was a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger. He didn't just sit there, either; he was the guy who used the robotic arm to capture a satellite for repair. It was the first time that had ever been done. Now, he’s actually back on campus teaching the next generation of aerospace students. It’s pretty cool to have a literal astronaut grading your homework.
Then there’s the sports world. You wouldn't necessarily expect a small-ish school in the Patriot League to produce global stars, but here we are.
CJ McCollum ('13) is probably the most famous recent grad. Most people remember him for the 2012 NCAA tournament where he led No. 15 Lehigh to an upset over No. 2 Duke. It’s still one of the greatest "Cinderella" moments in sports history. Since then, he’s had a massive career in the NBA and even served as the president of the Players Association. He’s a journalist by trade (his major), which makes him one of the most articulate guys in the league.
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And we can’t forget Terry Bradshaw. Wait—not that Terry Bradshaw. Actually, yes, the Terry Bradshaw. Except he didn't go to Lehigh. Common mistake. People often confuse Lehigh’s sports legacy with bigger state schools. The actual Lehigh football legends are guys like Rabih Abdullah, who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, and Will Rackley, who was a high draft pick for the Jaguars.
The Quiet Power of Lehigh Innovation
Some of the most impactful Lehigh University notable alumni are people whose names you’ve never heard, but whose inventions you use every single day.
For instance, Jesse Reno (Class of 1883). He invented the escalator. Imagine walking up the stairs at the mall like a peasant. You can thank a Lehigh grad for that inclined moving stairway.
Then there’s James Ward Packard (Class of 1884). He founded the Packard Motor Car Company. Back in the early 1900s, Packard was the gold standard for luxury. He was so successful that he basically funded the university’s massive engineering lab, which still bears his name today.
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Recent Successes and Rising Stars
The "Future Makers" (as the school likes to call them) aren't just historical figures. In the last year alone, we've seen:
- Martin Baron ('76): The former Executive Editor of the Washington Post (played by Liev Schreiber in the movie Spotlight) just won a major World Press Freedom award in 2025.
- Fran Rosch ('86): Listed as one of the best CEOs of 2025 for his work in cybersecurity.
- Dori Jones ('07): A startup founder who just snagged a $50,000 grand prize for her medical tech company, AcQumen Medical.
Why Does This Matter?
Look, every school has a "notable alumni" page. But Lehigh’s list is weirdly concentrated with people who build things. Whether it's a bridge (Lehigh grads literally built the Golden Gate Bridge and the Panama Canal locks), a company, or a career in the NBA, there’s a recurring theme of "practical excellence."
There is a bit of a misconception that Lehigh is only for people who want to work for Bethlehem Steel (which doesn't even exist anymore). In reality, the school has pivoted. You see grads heading into AI readiness, catastrophe modeling, and sustainable energy.
The Actionable Takeaway:
If you're looking at Lehigh or just curious about its impact, don't just look at the billionaires. Look at the "firsts." The first woman to lead the NYSE. The first person to repair a satellite in space. The first woman to lead a major accounting firm.
If you want to connect with this network, here is what you should actually do:
- Use Lehigh Connects: It’s their internal networking platform. Alumni are surprisingly responsive compared to the cold-outreach void of LinkedIn.
- Check the Rossin College Archives: If you’re a history or tech nerd, the records of the "Packard years" show exactly how modern mechanical engineering was standardized.
- Visit the South Side: If you go to Bethlehem, you’ll see the physical legacy of these alumni in the buildings they funded and the industries they started.
The Lehigh legacy isn't just a list of names; it’s a blueprint for how to actually get things done.