Former U.S. Ambassador to India Richard Verma ’90, Vice Chair and Partner at The Asia Group and Lehigh trustee, will deliver the address at Lehigh’s 151st spring commencement on Monday, May 20.
Verma, whom Forbes called “one of the most consequential envoys to ever occupy the prestigious post,” is a distinguished and dedicated Lehigh industrial and systems engineering alum who has left his mark on the worlds of business, law, diplomacy, and the military.
“What an honor to give the commencement address at Lehigh, a place that gave me my start, launched me into the professional world, and where I formed my closest friendships,” said Verma. “It is such a privilege to recognize and congratulate these incredible graduates.”
Said Lehigh President John D. Simon: “We are honored that Rich has agreed to join us and address the graduates and families of the Class of 2019. Given his extensive experience as a leader, both domestically and on the world stage, Rich’s words will certainly provide inspiration to our graduates, who are about to take on the challenge of being leaders in the world beyond our campus.”
A Wide-Ranging and Influential Career
Verma, a leading expert on trade and diplomacy in Asia, was nominated to serve as Ambassador by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. The first Indian-American to serve as Ambassador to India, he held the position from 2014 to 2017, overseeing one of the largest U.S. diplomatic missions in the world. Verma is credited with deepening U.S.-India ties and advancing bilateral cooperation in defense, trade, and clean energy. Verma facilitated multiple meetings between President Obama and India’s Prime Minister, which led to more than 100 new initiatives and more than 40 government-to-government dialogues. He was also the first U.S. Ambassador to travel to all of India’s 29 states.
“India and the United States are natural allies,” Verma told the Lehigh Bulletin in 2017. “Between our two countries, we have 1.6 billion people living in democratic systems with open and transparent governments that have checks and balances and believe in the rule of law and in resolving disputes peacefully… A positive ripple effect occurs whenever India and the United States come together. This is good for people everywhere who care about peace, open markets, and prosperity.”
Verma attended Lehigh on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1990. After earning a B.S. in industrial engineering with a minor in international relations from Lehigh, he went on to receive a law degree from American University. Verma served on active duty as an Air Force Judge Advocate, and his military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Last year, he was inducted into the Veterans Hall of Fame in Johnstown, Pa., the city where he was raised.
An Engaged Alumnus
Verma, who served as senior class president while at Lehigh, has remained engaged with his alma mater over the years since his own graduation. In addition to being a Lehigh trustee, he has served on the board of directors of the Lehigh University Alumni Association, and previously served as a Young Alumni Trustee.
In his 2016 delivery of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Spencer C. Schantz Distinguished Lecture, which is sponsored by the Department of Industrial and Systems engineering, Verma emphasized his appreciation for his Lehigh experience.
“I love coming back here,” he said. “I owe this institution a lot. I knew next to nothing when I arrived here in August 1986 and somehow this place helped set me on the right track. For someone from very modest means, going to school here was an awfully enriching and rewarding experience.”
Read the full story in the Lehigh University News Center.
Story by Kelly Hochbein
