The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science has named two faculty members to leadership roles in the First-Year Rossin Experience (FYRE) initiative, which is designed to reimagine how engineering students begin their academic journeys.
Professor Christina Viau Haden has been appointed FYRE director. Haden joined Lehigh in 2013 and most recently served as associate chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics. She co-founded the Future Makers Lab to create opportunities for hands-on exploration and interdisciplinary collaboration, and leads initiatives such as the Lehigh Women Engineers preLUsion program to support incoming students. She also plays a key role in program assessment and ABET accreditation processes and received the 2023 Richard P. Vinci Award for Educational Excellence.
Professor Eric Obeysekare, who joined Lehigh in 2024 with joint appointments in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Lehigh’s Office of Creative Inquiry, has been named associate director of FYRE. Obeysekare has contributed to experiential and inquiry-based learning through several Creative Inquiry initiatives, the Engineering 5 course, and the FYRE-based pilot course Engineering 95. His scholarly work has focused on using information and communication technologies for social impact in developing countries. As a Fulbright fellow, he studied Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem, research that led him to co-found ENVision Mobile, a social startup helping micro-entrepreneurs manage finances and build credit.
In their new roles, Haden and Obeysekare will provide vision, coordination, and academic leadership across curriculum design, faculty engagement, and assessment.
“The creation of FYRE and the appointment of its leadership underscore our commitment to nurturing Future Makers—students who learn not only what it means to be an engineer, but also how to belong, to innovate, and to make societal impact from day one,” says Stephen P. DeWeerth, professor and dean of the Rossin College.
