Michael S. Lehman, professor of practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics and director of Lehigh University’s Technical Entrepreneurship (TE) program, received the 2026 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Faculty Achievement Award at the annual 2026 Innovate! Celebrate! event on April 28. Lehman was recognized for his leadership in entrepreneurship education, graduate innovation programs, experiential learning, mentorship, and technology commercialization.
Engineering Lehigh’s Innovation Ecosystem
The award recognizes faculty who show exceptional leadership in entrepreneurship education and help students turn ideas into real-world impact. Lehman was honored for his work in experiential learning, interdisciplinary curriculum development, graduate student and faculty mentorship, and the growth of Lehigh’s innovation ecosystem.
A recognized leader, author, and speaker in graduate entrepreneurship education, Lehman is a trained medical doctor with an MBA whose career spans medicine, corporate innovation at Johnson & Johnson, emerging technology commercialization, and the creation of three university-based entrepreneurship initiatives. That breadth of experience enables him to build entrepreneurship programs that translate theory to practice.
Lehman’s approach to moving ideas from concept to commercialization is defined by a simple philosophy: innovation is learned by doing. He has built experiences that connect students with entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders around the world; championed AI and emerging technologies in product and venture development; and created interdisciplinary environments where engineers, scientists, designers, and business leaders solve real-world problems together. The result is a growing community of innovators launching startups, securing funding, commercializing research, and creating impact beyond the classroom.
Preparing Graduate Students for Careers in Innovation
As director of Lehigh’s Technical Entrepreneurship program, Lehman has helped shape a distinctive graduate pathway for students pursuing careers in innovation. Its practitioner-driven model connects students with faculty and industry professionals who have firsthand experience in product development, startups, and technology commercialization.
The Technical Entrepreneurship program offers a 30-credit master’s degree and a 12-credit graduate certificate for master’s and doctoral students across Lehigh University’s five colleges. By combining product development and venture creation, the program prepares students to develop intellectual property, launch startups, lead corporate innovation initiatives, and commercialize research-based ideas.
Graduates leave with more than a credential. They leave with a portfolio, a network, a tested mindset, and the confidence to build.
Recognizing Impact in Entrepreneurship Education
The 2026 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Faculty Achievement Award recognizes Lehman’s commitment to educating the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and technology leaders.
The honor also reflects the momentum of Lehigh’s Technical Entrepreneurship program and the university’s growing role in innovation education, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurial learning.
For students, faculty, founders, and industry partners, Lehman’s work represents modern entrepreneurship education: practical, interdisciplinary, market-aware, and connected to real-world impact.
