A Foundation for Creativity Across Disciplines
Reihman said the new structure underscores the role of the arts and libraries as cross-disciplinary hubs that support work across fields.
“Our work at Lehigh is enabled by the technologies and expertise that ITS provides, so those of us in the Arts and Libraries division will continue to work closely with the ITS teams,” Reihman said. “In particular, we will continue to innovate with the use of emerging digital tools for scholarship, creation, engagement and communication.”
By strengthening the connection between these resources, there is greater potential to expand opportunities for students, faculty and staff to engage in creative work while advancing academic scholarship.
Students from every discipline participate in the arts during their time at Lehigh, and the new framework is designed to ensure that both undergraduate and graduate students have strong institutional support for creative pursuits.
“The intersection in physical spaces is an important element of this structure,” Key said. “A library is a facility, yet much of the heart and soul is the librarians, artists, technologists and pedagogical experts coming together in those spaces. In ITS, we will continue to think about how to integrate that into teaching and learning and ensure people have the technologies and support they need. I always ask, ‘How do we let our faculty and students dream big and support them?’”
Additionally, Key said the changes will allow teams within ITS to pool resources to collaborate and strategize how they will continue to innovate, experiment and operationalize artificial intelligence.
Building Bridges with the Community
The new structure also highlights the role that Lehigh’s cultural and intellectual resources play in connecting the university with the broader community.
The university’s libraries, galleries and Zoellner Arts Center serve as gateways for the public to experience the vibrant arts culture on campus. These venues are among the primary ways residents of the Lehigh Valley engage with the university.
Aligning these assets under a shared strategic vision will make Lehigh’s cultural and scholarly resources more visible and accessible to the region.
Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Research
In addition to these structural changes, the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning will now report to Dominic Packer, vice provost for Educational Innovation and Assessment, reinforcing the university’s commitment to evidence-based approaches to advancing teaching practices and supporting faculty teaching.
Research Computing will continue to report to Key while also taking direction from Anand Jagota, vice provost for research, ensuring strong coordination between digital infrastructure and the university’s research enterprise.
These changes aim to create physical and digital environments that enhance teaching and learning, research and the end-user experience for the entire campus community.