Holona Ochs Named Director of the Marcon Institute

Dear Members of the Lehigh Community,

I am pleased to share that Holona Ochs, associate professor of political science, has been named director of Lehigh’s Marcon Institute.

Established in 2021 with a $2.5 million gift from Charlie Marcon, the Institute supports scholarship and student projects that address issues of racial equity and offers a range of opportunities for students, faculty and staff to critically examine and engage with issues related to race and equity, and to act as agents of change. The institute will seek to partner with organizations in the Lehigh Valley that are working to address similar issues.

As director, Holona will develop programs that prepare students to work with community partners to address issues of racism and injustice. She has already begun meeting and collaborating with stakeholders across campus and within the local community to solidify plans and learn how the Institute might amplify the valuable work so many are already doing to make Lehigh more inclusive for all. You can read more about Holona and her vision for the Institute here.

Please join me in congratulating Holona on this new role. I encourage all members of our community to watch for information about how to become involved with the Institute and its work to promote racial justice and equity here in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

Nathan Urban
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs