Lehigh University:

Lee A. Iacocca 1945
Lee A. Iacocca graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in industrial engineering in 1945, and is an alumnus of Theta Chi Fraternity. After graduation, he won the Wallace Memorial Fellowship and went to Princeton University. He then began a career at Ford Motor Company as an engineer. He switched career paths at Ford, entering the company's sales force.

Iacocca was involved with the design of several successful Ford automobiles, most notably the Ford Mustang. Eventually, he became the president of the Ford Motor Company. After leaving Ford, Iacocca joined Chrysler and began rebuilding the entire company from the ground up. Because of reforms Iacocca implemented, the company turned around quickly. Iacocca was also responsible for Chrysler's acquisition of AMC in 1987.

In May 1982, Ronald Reagan appointed Iacocca to head the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. He continues to serve on the board of the foundation. In 1984, Iacocca co-authored (with William Novak) his autobiography, titled Iacocca: An Autobiography. It was a hugely successful book, proving the best selling non-fiction hardback book of 1984 and 1985. Iacocca left Chrysler in 1992 and currently works with a company making electric bicycles.

Following the death of his wife from diabetes, Iacocca has become an active supporter of research to find a cure for the disease, and has been one of the main patrons of the innovative diabetes research of Denise Faustman at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In 2000, Iacocca founded Olivio Premium Products, which manufactures the Olivio line of food products made from olive oil. He donates all profits from the company to diabetes research. Iacocca is currently chairman of Nourish the Children. He takes an active interest in the initiative and helped to donate a generator for the Malawi, Africa VitaMeal plant. In 2004, Iacocca launched Join Lee Now, a national grassroots campaign that brought Faustman's research to human clinical trials.

Iacocca founded The Iacocca Institute at Lehigh, in partnership with the university. The Institute is dedicated to increasing the global competitiveness of businesses and organizations. Organized as a vision-focused, action-oriented group, the Iacocca Institute was directed to help companies help themselves and to ensure the availability of a competitive workforce today and in the future.