LehighNow Volume 02, Issue 01

              LEHIGHNOW
September 6, 2001
Volume 2, Issue 1
IN BRIEF
HONORS/AWARDS
Student-athletes
on top
in grad rate
Lehigh was named
inaugural winner of the
USA Today-NCAA
Foundation Academic
Achievement Award for
success in leadership
graduation rates.
Lehigh's student-athlete
graduation rate of 94
percent during 1994-
2000 is the best among
all 302 NCAA Division I
institutions.
"This is an outstanding
distinction that is truly
reflective of our commitment to achieve success
on the playing field and in
the classroom," said
Lehigh President Gregory
C. Farrington. "This
recognition is one that we
can truly celebrate across
all areas of our campus
and that is representative
of the efforts of our
combined faculty, staff,
coaches and mentors who
have provided the
necessary guidance and
support to our athletes."
Lehigh's ranking has
been in the top 20 in
graduation rate for eight
years, or essentially since
the NCAA has made
these rates available, and
in the top 10 for the past
five years.
As part of the award,
Lehigh will receive a
$25,000 institutional
scholarship from USA
Today through the
NCAA Foundation.
Marshall
to lead
LUAA
Christopher V. Marshall,
head coach of the men's
and women's swimming
and diving programs, has
been named executive
director of the Lehigh
University Alumni
Association (LUAA),
effective Sept. 1.
" Chris was chosen to lead
the LUAA based on his
ability to craft and fulfill a
dynamic vision for the
department, his experience
in developing lasting
alliances, and his unwavering loyalty to the university
and its alumni," Lehigh
President Gregory C.
Farrington said.
"I'm excited by the
opportunity to lead the
Lehigh University Alumni
Association and honored to
be able to work with
President Farrington and
the LUAA board to shape
the association's vision for
the future," Marshall said.
"It was a difficult decision
for me to leave my role as
head swim coach as there
are so many outstanding
athletes and coaches
involved in the program.
But I believe I can make a
greater contribution to the
university and have a
positive impact as
executive director of the
alumni association."
Marshall graduated from
Lehigh in 1988 with a
degree in architecture.
Upon graduation, he was
hired as head coach of the
men's and women's
swimming and diving
program. He has led Lehigh
to four Patriot League
Christopher V. Marshall
championship titles, and has
mentored three league
scholar-athletes, 74 All-
Patriot League honorees and
two Olympians. He was
honored by his peers as
Patriot League Coach of the
Year on eight occasions in 11
years.
" Chris worked diligently to
ensure his athletes had
positive academic and
athletic experiences at Lehigh
and has consistently earned
high praise from graduating
athletes," Farrington said. "In
his role as coach, Chris
initiated an alumni relations
program in 1989 that has
been successful in engaging
and energizing former
swimmers, building a base of
more than 1,000 loyal and
involved alumni."
Gardiner
named interim
admissions
dean
Bruce Gardiner has been
appointed to the position of
interim dean of admissions
and financial aid.
"Bruce is well-suited to
lead the admissions office
during this period of
transition and is eager to
continue our efforts to
attract the best and brightest
students to Lehigh," Provost
Ron Yoshida said in
announcing the appointment.
" His willingness to step into
this important role at a
critical time will allow us to
maintain the momentum
created during the busy
summer months," Yoshida
said.
Gardiner had been serving
as assistant registrar. He has
been with Lehigh nearly 30
years, serving in admissions,
financial aid and athletics in
addition to the registrar's
office. He joined the Lehigh
staff in 1972 as head coach
of women's swimming and
diving, a position he held for
17 years.
He joined the admissions
staff in 1989 as student
recruitment coordinator, and
was promoted to associate
dean of admissions the
following year. Prior to his
move to the registrar's office,
he served as senior associate
dean of admissions and
financial aid.
Yoshida said Lehigh would
review its enrollment
management effort before
naming a search committee
and a search firm later this
fall.
Gardiner replaces Lorna J.
Hunter, who accepted a
position at Bryant College in
Smithfield, R.I.