An enduring partnership

By Jill Spotz

Lafayette College welcomed state officials, local leaders, and community members to showcase the dynamic collaboration among the College, the community, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Nov. 20. Lafayette was one stop on a three-day tour by bipartisan members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Tourism and Economic and Recreational Development Committee to learn more about the Lehigh Valley’s thriving economic, cultural, and educational collaborations. Members of the committee also toured Allentown and Bethlehem, where they held a public hearing to learn more about tourism, the arts, and economic development in the Lehigh Valley. The visit was organized by Lehigh Valley 250, a collaboration of cultural and education institutions, including Lafayette, that is helping recognize the nation’s semiquincentennial in 2026.

Rico Reyes, director of art galleries and curator of art collections at Lafayette and a member of the Lehigh Valley 250 organizing committee, spoke at the hearing at the Hotel Bethlehem about an exhibition opening in fall 2026 at the Williams Center for the Arts, The Spy Who Brought Surrender. The exhibition will be one of a series of exhibitions in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Lafayette faculty and students have worked with museum curators to provide new research for the seven exhibitions at sites in Easton and Bethlehem, with support provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Northampton County, Allan P. Kirby Jr. Foundation, Keefe Family Foundation, William T. Morris Foundation, Keystone Savings Foundation, Discover Lehigh Valley, and other funders.

During their visit to Easton, Pennsylvania House committee members participated in a tour of key areas of Downtown, College Hill, and Lafayette’s campus that have been enhanced through Commonwealth grants, including the Williams Arts Campus; the escarpment trail; pedestrian safety enhancements to Cattell, McCartney, and High streets; Rinek Rope Works; Karl Stirner Arts Trail; and more. There are exciting opportunities on the horizon for additional state partnerships with the College considering Lafayette will celebrate its bicentennial in 2026 alongside the nation’s 250th anniversary. Recent grant awards from the Commonwealth and Northampton County are underwriting plans for a multimodal trail connecting College Hill with Palmer and Forks townships, including Lafayette’s Metzgar campus.

Following the tour, a dinner and panel discussion led by President Nicole Hurd gathered Lafayette faculty, staff, and local leaders from the arts and business sectors. Together, they reflected on the transformational impact of Easton’s partnership with the College over the past two decades. 

Panel members included:

Salvatore J. Panto Jr. H’11, mayor, City of Easton
Peter S. Ruggiero P’20,25, president and CEO, Crayola LLC
Sherryta Freeman, director of athletics, Lafayette College 
Shelley Brown H’04, president and CEO, State Theatre Center for the Arts 
James Toia, executive director, Karl Stirner Arts Trail 
Gladstone “Fluney” Hutchinson, associate professor of economics and director of Lafayette’s Economic Empowerment and Global Learning Program
Lawrence Malinconico, associate professor of geology and environmental geosciences and director of Lafayette’s Technology Clinic

President Nicole Hurd led a panel discussion with faculty, staff, and local leaders from the arts and business sectors during the Nov. 20 visit by members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Tourism and Economic and Recreational Development Committee.

Maurice Luker, executive director of corporate, foundation, and government relations at Lafayette, highlighted the College’s community engagement programs as drivers of innovation and connection.

“Easton is an important gateway to millions of visitors to the Commonwealth each year, and the College’s partnership with Easton reflects mutual benefit” Luker noted during the program. “From designing recreation spaces that bolster community engagement and offering engaging and creative arts programming to solving real-world problems through our Technology Clinic, our faculty, staff, and students contribute their time and talents, which result in lasting community impact. Projects like the Karl Stirner Arts Trail and support for the Easton Farmers’ Market exemplify this synergy, blending experiential learning for students with tangible benefits for residents. These efforts underscore the power of collaboration in fostering growth.”

During the discussion, Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. traced the City of Easton’s evolution. 

“When I took office in 2008, Easton was at a crossroads,” he shared. “By prioritizing tourism and the arts, we’ve become a vibrant destination. Lafayette has been a cornerstone of this transformation, contributing talent, resources, and vision. Signature events like Heritage Day, Easton Garlic Fest, and PA Bacon Fest—now major attractions drawing tens of thousands annually—are products of this collaborative spirit. Lafayette is not just a college; it’s part of the soul of Easton,” Panto said.

Independent colleges like Lafayette contribute to the local economy in many ways, including attracting and engaging visitors as part of tourism. Lafayette draws some 100,000 visitors per year through admissions, athletics, education and arts events, family and alumni programs, and more. Lafayette’s annual local economic impact is approximately $300 million, according to the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP). Lafayette is also Easton’s largest employer and taxpayer.

President Hurd reiterated the importance of service and collaboration, acknowledging that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Tourism and Economic and Recreational Development Committee comprises members who demonstrate the important work of public service and its impact on our democracy. 

“Lafayette is proud to nurture collaboration, not just within our campus but across the Lehigh Valley,” said President Hurd during the panel discussion. “Together, we are building something extraordinary, and we are eager to deepen these connections as we look to the twin anniversaries of the nation’s semiquincentennial and the College’s bicentennial in 2026.”