11-25-2024
Gary Lehman is familiar with the responsibilities of running organizations. A Daniels School alum and former CEO of Phillips Lighting Electronics and Oerlikon Drive Systems, Lehman understands the importance of having a strong board to help guide policies.
Current vice chair of the Purdue Board of Trustees (BOT), Lehman will become chair on January 1, as current chair and Daniels School alum Mike Berghoff will retire from the board after 15 years of service and nine in the top role. Lehman is the third consecutive Daniels School graduate to become chair; Tom Spurgeon held the role from 2013-2015.
In addition to serving on the BOT, Lehman sits on several corporate boards, and he sees many parallels.
“Each type of board, whether public, private, or education, has its unique characteristics,” he says. “In most boards the leadership hierarchy is lean and well-defined. Shareholders elect directors, and directors select a CEO who leads the entity.
“In a major state university, such as Purdue, there are many sources of great input and influence. The students, the faculty, the state legislature, the president and the trustees all must provide leadership for us to be successful. But the similarities are basic. Sincere commitment and dedication to the long-term viability of the institution, competent leadership and a willingness to understand and accept various viewpoints are crucial.”
To keep education affordable and accessible, the university has held tuition constant for 13 consecutive years. While Purdue is currently enjoying record enrollments, Lehman says leadership is aware of the challenges ahead for higher education.
“The demographic decline in college age students will stress the enrollment of many institutions,” he says. “Also, the bipartisan dissatisfaction with the cost of higher education and the outcome of a college degree is appropriate in many cases.
“Purdue is an exception to many of these issues, but we have our own. As a significant STEM-based institution we must remain pertinent as technology races forward. We also should provide a balanced education that prepares students with communication and critical thinking skills that will allow them to be contributors and leaders for the future.”
Lehman is joined on the BOT by three other Daniels School alumni—Berghoff, Mike Klipsch, and Shawn Taylor. When Berghoff steps down in January, he will be replaced by another Daniels graduate, Dave Ricks, chair and CEO of Eli Lilly.
As seasoned executives, they all understand that it’s impossible to keep key stakeholders—students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni and legislators—happy all the time. Therefore, empathy is a key skill for trustees to possess.
“I have learned if communication and respect for the priorities of others are apparent, we can go a long way toward achieving a general level of satisfaction from everyone,” Lehman says.
