Sanjay Shah, CEO of Vistex, Inc., recently donated $5 million to Lehigh University to fund the Vistex Institute for Executive Learning and Research, three decades after he left India to attend the school.
“Lehigh was my gateway to life in the United States. Lehigh will always have a special place for me. The U.S. is my home,” Shah said.
This gift was intended to help Lehigh expand their executive education program.
“This gift is absolutely, positively transformational. The gift allows us to expand our offerings, footprint, and partner with Vistex. It is not just a gift. It is truly an intellectual partnership,” said Georgette Chapman Phillips, dean of the Lehigh College of Business and Economics.
Shah launched his software company in 1999, and gave Lehigh this donation with the hope that Vistex could offer its resources to the executive program.
Shah said, “Since we also work with some of the best known brands in the world I believe that our participation, not just in the commissioning of the institute, but as it also develops and grows, we will be able to bring our clients and their perspectives into the programs as well.”
Historically, Lehigh has not had a developed executive education program. However, in 2016, the school brought on David Welsh to design and direct an executive program.
When asked about the new program, Phillips said, “The whole idea is we want people to never stop learning and we want to be their partner from (age) 18 to 80.”
Shah’s donation will be used to erect a new building and provide a greater wealth of resources to students.
Lehigh President John D. Simon praised Shah for his generosity, saying, “With this support, Mr. Shah is embodying the coward-thinking, impact-driven ethos of Lehigh graduates by utilizing his passion for the university and for lifelong education to support future leaders.”