$10 million gift from David and Patricia Jackson and family to establish laboratory for first-year engineering students

Lehigh University announced a landmark $10 million gift from alumnus David Jackson, along with his wife Patricia Jackson, daughter Suzanne Jackson, and the Suzanne and David Jackson Foundation, that will fundamentally reshape engineering education at one of the nation’s premier research universities by creating a dedicated home for hands-on learning from a student’s very first day on campus.

The transformative donation will fund the construction of the Jackson Laboratory, an open-concept studio space within the historic Packard Laboratory — the longstanding heart of Lehigh Engineering since its opening in 1929 — to serve as the permanent hub for the university’s groundbreaking First-Year Rossin Engineering (FYRE) program.

This initiative, already piloted with a small cohort of 34 students, represents a bold departure from traditional first-year curricula that have long emphasized abstract mathematics, foundational science courses, and theoretical instruction. Instead, FYRE immerses incoming students immediately in practical engineering challenges, research opportunities, and capstone-style projects that connect technical skills directly to real-world societal impact, from designing sustainable infrastructure to developing advanced energy storage solutions.

University leaders hailed the gift as a pivotal step in Lehigh’s broader “Inspiring the Future Makers” strategic plan, which seeks to position the institution as a national leader in experiential education and interdisciplinary innovation.

“The Jackson Laboratory will solidify Lehigh as a leader in cultivating critical thinkers and doers, engineers who are best prepared to create, to lead and to succeed,” said Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82. Provost Nathan Urban echoed that sentiment with particular emphasis on the lab’s role in student transformation: “This lab will be where students do not just study engineering, it will be the place where they become engineers.”

The Jackson Laboratory is envisioned as far more than a workshop; it will be a dynamic, collaborative environment equipped with state-of-the-art tools including 3D printers, laser cutters, and other rapidly evolving technologies that allow students to prototype ideas, iterate on designs, and tackle authentic engineering problems with immediate relevance.

Surrounding the core studio space will be dedicated areas for faculty-student mentoring, group presentations, and teamwork, fostering not only technical proficiency but also the leadership, communication, and creative problem-solving skills demanded by today’s employers. Steve DeWeerth, Lehigh’s Lew and Sherry Hay Dean of Engineering, described the initiative as “a complete revamping of what we’ve traditionally done in engineering education both at Lehigh and as a discipline.” He added that the new facility “will not only provide a physical space for FYRE students to do engineering, it will also be the place where the wider Lehigh community sees the power of Lehigh Engineering in action.”

For David Jackson, a chemical engineering graduate who has long maintained close ties to his alma mater, the gift stems from a deeply personal conviction about the future of the field he entered more than five decades ago. “It’s one thing to learn a calculus theorem, memorize it, and regurgitate it for a quiz,” Jackson said.

“It’s something else altogether to make something or fix something that’s broken.” The Jackson family views FYRE as the ideal vehicle to blend Lehigh’s rigorous academic foundation with the digital fluency and hands-on mindset that modern engineers require, ensuring graduates emerge not only technically proficient but also innovative and adaptable in addressing complex global challenges.

The FYRE program, which will scale to include every first-year student in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science by 2028, builds on Lehigh’s century-plus tradition of pragmatic, industry-aligned education while addressing evolving national demands for engineers who can think creatively and collaborate across disciplines from day one.

Unlike conventional introductory courses that delay applied work until later years, FYRE integrates design, experimentation, and societal context into the freshman experience, allowing students to explore engineering’s human dimensions — why it matters, how it serves communities, and how it drives progress — right alongside the technical fundamentals.

Packard Laboratory, a landmark building that has anchored Lehigh’s engineering identity for nearly a century, will gain renewed prominence through this project, marking a moment of historic significance comparable to its original dedication.

The Jackson Laboratory’s integration into this storied space underscores the university’s commitment to honoring its past while boldly investing in its future, creating a visible symbol of innovation that will inspire generations of students and faculty alike.

With nearly 8,000 students across its five colleges and a faculty renowned for both research excellence and teaching dedication, Lehigh University has long distinguished itself by combining the intellectual depth of a major research institution with the close-knit, supportive community of a smaller college.

Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and founded in 1865, the university continues to evolve its programs to meet the needs of an increasingly complex world, emphasizing experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and preparation for leadership.

This latest philanthropic investment reflects the Jacksons’ enduring belief in Lehigh’s mission and their desire to empower the next wave of engineers to not only master their craft but to shape a better tomorrow. As the Jackson Laboratory takes shape and the FYRE program expands, university officials anticipate it will serve as a model for engineering education nationwide, reinforcing Lehigh’s reputation as a place where students are equipped to turn ideas into impact from the moment they arrive.

The gift arrives at a time when demand for skilled engineers remains exceptionally high across sectors ranging from renewable energy and advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence and infrastructure resilience. By prioritizing early hands-on engagement, Lehigh aims to retain and inspire more students in the field, particularly those who might otherwise be deterred by purely theoretical early coursework, while also strengthening partnerships with industry and research entities that value graduates with proven practical experience.

David Jackson and his family join a distinguished lineage of Lehigh benefactors whose generosity has propelled the university forward, ensuring that its engineering programs remain at the forefront of innovation for decades to come. As construction and program rollout begin in the months ahead, the Jackson Laboratory stands poised to become the defining space where Lehigh’s future makers first discover their potential to engineer meaningful change in the world.