Staff Professional Growth and Development
At Lehigh, we're committed to fostering a professional culture that values and promotes staff member well-being, learning, and engagement, as well as the sharing of knowledge and expertise, both on and off campus. Learn more about the ways we celebrate staff excellence.
Celebrating Collective Leadership
At Lehigh, Student Affairs is powered by collective leadership—professionals whose dedication, creativity, and care transform the student experience. From the Pillar of Integrity Award to staff spotlights and divisional accomplishments, we celebrate the integrity, innovation, and impact of our colleagues. Together, their leadership shapes a vibrant community where students thrive in and beyond the classroom.
The John W. Smeaton Pillar of Integrity Award
| John W. Smeaton, Vice Provost for Student Affairs 1994-2016 |
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The Pillar of Integrity Award recognizes leaders who understand that true success is a team effort. This award honors individuals who uplift others and recognize the power of "we" in achieving great things. Recipients also demonstrate a strong sense of self-awareness, viewing challenges as valuable opportunities for growth.
Past Recipients
Read about the inspiring individuals who have received the Pillar of Integrity Award and learn how they've made a difference through collaborative leadership and personal resilience.
Nick Christy, Associate Director, Student Involvement & Student Center Operations
Rosa Guzman, Coordinator, Academic Life & Student Transitions
Katie Guynn, Director for Student-Athlete Academic Services
Carol Hill, Director, Student Center Operations
Kara M. Uhrich, Assistant Dean/Director of the Center for Academic Success
Sarah Stevens
Stefanie D. Burke
Aarsenio Perry
Lehigh’s Division of Student Affairs is proud to be a Most Promising Place to Work designee from Diverse: Issues in Higher Education for the past 3 years. Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs (MPPWSA) is a national recognition that celebrates student affairs workplaces that are vibrant, diverse, supportive, and committed to staff work-life balance, professional development, and inclusive excellence. 2024 marks the third year in a row that Lehigh’s Division of Student Affairs received this designation.
Explore Our Impact Reports
See the impact of our student-centered professionals in action. Explore stories of dedication, innovation, and care—backed by data that shows how Student Affairs shapes student success, well-being, and belonging every day. Discover the difference our staff make in the lives of Lehigh students.
Student Affairs Staff Accomplishments
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Nick Christy, Associate Director for Student Involvement, received the John Smeaton Pillar of Integrity Award.
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We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and commitment of our colleagues who celebrated 25 years of service this year.
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Chris Mulvihill
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Lori McClaind
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- Kara Uhrich, Director of the Academic Success and Writing Center, received a grant from the ACUE program through the Office of Educational Innovation and Assessment to launch a modified peer academic coaching program.
- Brooke DeSipio, Director of the Office of Survivor Support and Intimacy Education, was elected to the ATIXA (Association of Title IX Administrators) board of directors
- Residence Life received a university sustainability award through the Office of Sustainability
- Dr. Alexandra Smith successfully earned her Student Affairs Educator Certification (CSAEd) through the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification and a specialty certification in Fraternity and Sorority Life (CSAEd-FSL).
- Mourica Sentine-George became a Certified Master Trainer through Leadership Trainer.
- Meg Munley Stone presented at the NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) and AIR (Association for Institutional Research) national conferences about the use of photovoice, an innovative participatory research approach, in various projects at Lehigh.
- Rosa Guzman, Coordinator of Academic Life & Student Transitions, received the John Smeaton Pillar of Integrity Award.
- Dr. Ashley Lemmons, Associate Dean of Students, received her Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University.
- Jean Barnard and Chloe Webb received the 2024 Allyship in Action Award presented by the Lehigh University Pride Center.
- Nick Christy, Associate Director, Student Involvement and Student Center Facilities, received the Alfred Noble Robinson Exempt Staff Award.
- Katie Guynn, Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services, received the John Smeaton Pillar of Integrity Award.
- Keith Blankenship, Assistant Dean and Director of Residence Life, earned his MBA from Lehigh.
- Brooke DeSipio, Assistant Dean and Director of the Gender Violence Education and Support Office received the Hillman Exempt Staff Award.
- Carolina Hernandez, Assistant Dean and Director of the Community Service Office, received the Employee Relations Advisory Committee (ERAC) Distinguished Staff Award.
- Carol Hill, Director of Student Center Facilities, received the John Smeaton Pillar of Integrity Award.
- Brooke DeSipio, Assistant Dean and Director of the Gender Violence Education and Support Office, presented at the NASPA Strategies Conference on Lehigh’s trauma-informed yoga program, Take Back Your Body Yoga.
- Nicole Burke, Associate Director of Orientation and First Year Experience, & Stefanie Burke, Assistant Dean and Director of Orientation and First Year Experience, presented on Building the First-Year Experience through Anti Racist Practices at NODA – Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education.
- Meg Munley Stone, Director, Student Affairs Research and Assessment, presented at a NASPA Conference on Student Success: “Assessing First Generation Students’ Sense of Belonging Using Photovoice Methodology”.
- Holly Taylor, Associate Director, Student Conduct and Community Expectations, presented at the Association of Student Conduct Administrators National Conference in February 2022 with colleagues from Clayton State University (GA), University of Delaware, and LaSalle University. The topic was promoting civility and combating incivility.
- Serafina Genise, Assistant Director, Student Engagement, presented at the Association of College Unions International (ACUI): “The Great Transition: Navigating Post-Graduate Life, Job Searching, and Entering the Field of Higher Education”
- Carol Hill, Director-Student Center Facilities became a faculty member for ACUI Building Manager Certificate Program Fall 2020.
- Carol Hill, Director-Student Center Facilities, Nick Christy, Assistant Director Programming & Student Center Facilities, Sandi Piazza, Reservation Coordinator-Student Center Facilities, Connie Rizzo, Office Assistant-Student Center Facilities and student staff completed Everfi Diversity Training, Spring 2021.
- Nick Christy, Assistant Director Programming & Student Center Facilities completed "Managing the Performance of Others" through Lehigh's Best Program.
- Katie Guynn, Director-Student Athlete Academic Services and Kara Uhrich, Director - Center for Academic Success presented "DIY: Academic Accountability Groups for Athletes and Non-Athletes" at ACPA's National Convention in March 2021.
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The Steel Battalion Army ROTC, Lehigh University's Department of Military Science and Leadership, won the prestigious Ranger Challenge Championship at Fort Dix, New Jersey beating 44 other top-tier Army ROTC programs within the North East. This rigorous military and leadership skills competition culminated in 4-days of soldiering events and complex leadership team challenges. The Steel Battalion Ranger Challenge team moves on to compete at West Point, NY in April 2020 to join the Top 8 Army ROTC programs in the nation competing against West Point, Annapolis, The Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and International Participants. This is the 2nd time in ROTC history the Lehigh Army ROTC program has represented at such a high level. The Steel Battalion outdistanced it's closest competitor by over a 30 point spread, Penn State University.
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The Steel Battalion Army ROTC, Lehigh University's Department of Military Science and Leadership Department, has been recognized as a finalist for the prestigious General Douglas MacArthur Award recognizing the top program achievements of 42 host programs within the Northeast. As a top 5 finalist, this award recognizes the overall quality of Cadet performances in academics, leadership, physical fitness, retention, recruiting, faculty support, and positive impacts to our community, satellite Schools, and importantly Lehigh University. The Top Winner for 2020 was Slippery Rock University's ROTC Program. The STEEL Battalion looks to improve on it's Top 5 rating next year and bring home the top award! This year's other finalists included the ROTC programs from University of Vermont, PITT, and Fordham University.
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Maddy Eadline, Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of Special Projects; Carol Hill, Director of Student Center Facilities; Nick Christy, Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Student Center Facilities presented "A Light in the Dark: An Insight into Successful Social Change through Late-Night Programming" at ACUI Region VII Rowan University. - November 16, 2019.
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Carolina Hernandez was selected as Advisor of the Year by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs
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Stefanie Burke - Assistant Dean & Director, First Year Experience and Carolina Hernandez, Assistant Dean and Director, Community Service presented the Institute Showcase at ACPA's Institute on the Curricular Approach in Anaheim, California
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Carolina Hernandez - Assistant Dean and Director, Community Service
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Presented at the Community School Institute, Utilizing Data to Tell Your Story
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Facilitated culturally responsive practices training for the United Way and Lehigh Valley non-profits
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Facilitated Health Equity Summit on Immigration
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Carol Hill, Director, Student Center Facilities, Aarsenio Perry, Assistant Dean and Director, Student Engagement and Nick Christy, Assistant Director, Student Engagement
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Presented "We're All in This Together: Connnecting Campus Partners to Student Event Planning" at the ACU&I Region VI Conference at Penn State
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Presented "We're All in This Together: Connnecting Campus Partners to Student Event Planning" at the ACU&I Region VI National Conference Indianapolis
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Carol Hill, Director, Student Center Facilities, and Nick Christy, Assistant Director, Student Engagement presented "The SUPerb Journey: Self-Authorship and Leadership Within Our Student Staff" at the ACU&I REgion VI Conference at Penn State
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Kara Uhrich, Director for Academic Success presented at the Student Success and Retention Professionals Meeting at Ursinus College in Colegeville, PA, which is an annual one-day meeting that brings together student success/retention/persistence professionals to share ideas and strategies for increasing the number of students who graduate, about the Center for Academic Success' newly launched ACES program. The title of the programs was "Academic Coaching and Education Support (ACES) in a Group Setting"
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Carolina Hernandez, Assistant Dean and Director, Community Service
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Board of Directors for the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley
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Great South Side Sale, Raised $23,000 for Children's Programming in South Bethlehem
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Licensed Trainer of IIRP
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City of Bethlehem Mayor's Latino Advisory Council
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Laros Foundation $25K Gift for the University Center naming a CSO Assistant Director Office
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Lehigh vs. Lafayette Blood Drive Rivalry
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Adjunct of the 'The Citizen and the City' course
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Inducted in the inaugural class of Alpha Alpha Alpha, a national honor society for first-generation college students at Lehigh
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Carol Hill, Director, Student Center Facilities was faculty for ACUI Digital Badge Online Course "Building Manager 101"
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Ashley Lemmons, Associate Dean of Sudents was a faculty member at ACPA's Institute on the Curricular Approach in Anaheim, California