The Spotcast

Navigating Disability Accommodations at Lehigh: A Conversation with Kelly Woodbridge

Welcome to the Spotcast! In this episode, Hillary Kwiatek, Lehigh University's Employee Communication Specialist, sits down with Kelly Woodbridge, Lehigh's first Disability Accommodation Specialist. Kelly shares her unique role at Lehigh, her career journey, and the personal experiences that led her to this position.
We delve into Lehigh's newly updated disability accommodation policy for faculty and staff, exploring the interactive and individualized process designed to support employees with disabilities. Kelly discusses the diverse range of disabilities she accommodates, the importance of creating an inclusive workplace, and her efforts to raise awareness and understanding across the university.
Learn about the Accommodate system, how the updated policy enhances support for employees, and Kelly's commitment to fostering a more accessible and empathetic campus culture. Tune in to discover valuable insights on disability accommodations and how Lehigh is striving to ensure every employee can thrive.

Lehigh Community Schools Partnership

Whether it's connecting kids to resources like dental and vision care or addressing food insecurity in our community, the Community Schools Partnership is making a significant impact on hundreds of families in Lehigh's surrounding neighborhoods of South Bethlehem and Fountain Hill.  
Learn more about the incredible work of Lehigh University's Community Schools Partnership with Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Community Service Office Carolina Hernandez and Community Schools Coordinator Paige Hoffman.

An Interview with Lauren Hamory

We're marking National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a special podcast featuring Lehigh's Learning Design and Development Specialist Lauren Hamory. Lauren shares openly about working with a disability. She also offers great advice for those just starting to think about disclosing their disability in the workplace.
 
Lehigh employees and job applicants who wish to request accommodations are encouraged to visit the HR website and contact Kelly Woodbridge, Disability Accommodations Specialist, at kmp415@lehigh.edu. 

Special Episode: Our Future, Our Lehigh

Join us as we delve into Our Future, Our Lehigh - the open dialogue on the university’s strategic direction that kicked off during the summer and has been in full swing this fall. 
 
Our guests are the duo charged with leading the effort: Nathan Urban is Lehigh’s Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. Chris Cook is the university’s Vice President for strategic planning and initiatives.

S2E5 Genna Albano

Genna Albano loves people and she loves fitness. So she loves her job as Assistant Manager of Taylor Gym in Lehigh Athletics.
 
Genna joined The Spotcast for a conversation last fall during the beginning of the Delta variant spike of the pandemic. The gym had to be closed and the podcast had to be recorded remotely.
 
A year later, Taylor Gym, like the rest of the university, is open for business. Hear from Genna about the experience of running a fitness program with no gym, the lessons learned, and why working at Lehigh brings together everything she enjoys about life, including her family.

S2E4: Ilena Key

Meet Lehigh's Chief Technology Officer Ilena Key and learn how her team's ability to transform Lehigh into a fully remote enterprise in March 2020 was built on years of good decision-making.

Mark Wilson

What do you do as a new leader of a performing arts organization when your theater has to be closed because of a pandemic? Meet Mark Wilson, Executive Director of Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University, in this fascinating interview recorded in the summer of 2021. From his childhood in Iowa to the international opera stage and many twists and turns along the way, Mark takes us on a career and life journey that you won't want to miss.

S2E2: William Crow

Get to know the Director of the Lehigh University Art Galleries. Learn about the crooked path that led William Crow to Lehigh and what happens to an art museum when the world shuts down.

S2E1: Brian Slocum

Welcome back to The Spotcast! Our second season starts with an interview with Brian Slocum, Manager of the Wilbur Powerhouse and Design Labs on Lehigh's campuses. Learn how Brian and his team pivoted during the pandemic and served thousands of healthcare workers in the community. Plus, find out how a natural disaster has beautified campus buildings.

Episode Seven: Bill Whitney

For our final episode of season one, we sat down with Bill Whitney,  Administrative Director of the Office for Creative Inquiry. Bill shares his unlikely career journey and explains just what Creative Inquiry is all about.
 
We recorded our interview prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.