Written by Colin McEvoy | October 27, 2026 | SHARE
Lee Iacocca's daughter said her father would be "over the moon" as Lehigh University marked a new chapter for the institute bearing his name with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Kathryn Iacocca Hentz believes her father would be enormously proud of the work being done at Lehigh University's Lee Iacocca Institute for Global Leadership, which bears his name and continues his legacy.
That was her message during a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the institute's home in the Rauch Business Center this month, where she reflected on her father's legacy and praised the university's efforts to carry his vision forward.
"My dad would be over the moon," Hentz said. "It's unbelievable what is being accomplished by everybody here. Everyone's so dedicated to each piece of it," referring to the institute’s growing portfolio of programming and initiatives.
Celebrating Lee Iacocca's legacy
Dozens of members of the Lehigh community gathered Oct. 15 for the ribbon-cutting event at the institute’s new location. The event brought a wide range of supporters to celebrate the institute's nearly four decades of fostering global leadership and international education, including members of Iacocca’s extended family and his eldest granddaughter.
The celebration coincided with Lehigh's Leadership Recognition Dinner later that evening, where Lee Iacocca ’45 was posthumously honored with the Lifetime Commitment to Lehigh Award, recognizing his lifelong leadership and service to the university.
Hentz and her sister, Lia Assad, were also inducted into Lehigh's 1865 Society, which recognizes individuals whose lifetime giving to the university has exceeded $1 million. The celebration took place on what would have been her father's 102nd birthday, a coincidence Hentz described as "a good birthday present."
Hentz said she was struck by how much progress Lehigh had made since her previous campus visit several years ago, when many of the university's initiatives were still taking shape. She said the accomplishments she witnessed during her latest visit reflected the values her father championed throughout his life.
"His whole mindset, business-wise, life-wise, humanity-wise, is all being expressed by Lehigh University, and that's huge," she said.
A new home for global leadership
Hentz was particularly enthusiastic about the institute's location in the Rauch Business Center, where students, faculty and others can easily stop by, learn about its programs and become involved.
"I really feel like it's found its home," she said. "This is home now."
Founded in 1988, the institute has long served as a hub for global learning and leadership development. Among its signature initiatives is the Iacocca International Internship Program (IIIP), which has provided nearly 1,000 Lehigh students with internships in 62 countries since 2011.
Previously known as the Iacocca Institute, the organization adopted its new name to reflect an evolving mission to cultivate global leadership proficiencies of current and emerging leaders. Building on decades of implementing experiential learning programs, the institute is embedding cultural empathy, intellectual humility, and deep curiosity into how we define leadership at the Institute.
“At the Institute, global leadership goes beyond navigating complex problems; it is about honoring our shared humanity and learning to thrive across cultural boundaries,” said Leah Mason, Executive Director of the Lee Iacocca Institute for Global Leadership. “The institute’s portfolio is structured as an intentional continuum of learning, shaping how the institute expands programs to meet the needs of today’s students and early-career professionals.”
Preparing the next generation of leaders
Cheryl Matherly, Vice President & Vice Provost for International Affairs, said the institute's emphasis on global leadership is especially important as universities consider how best to prepare students for an increasingly complex world.
"We've always known that the global space is a unique place where people can learn," Matherly said, emphasizing the importance of bringing people together with different perspectives to collaborate on solutions to complex global challenges.
As advances in artificial intelligence reshape society, Matherly said universities must consider how to prepare students with the skills and perspectives they need to thrive in a changing world.
"As we think about this world where we're dealing with increasingly capable machines, what's our role in preparing increasingly capable human beings?" she said.
Hentz said she was eager to return to Lehigh again soon, having been impressed by the progress she witnessed during her visit. She also expressed her appreciation for the faculty, staff, and others who have helped advance the university's mission and carry forward her father's legacy.
"I just want to thank everybody who's involved," Hentz said. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my sisters and my entire family. It's really special."