Message from LVRC Director
After nearly two decades of contributions to collaborative community-based research in the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Research Consortium’s Executive Committee, in consultation with LVAIC Executive Director Janet Baker and staff, has made the difficult decision to dissolve as a formal organization. Since its founding, the LVRC has built a well-respected reputation within the broader community and has contributed to both specific projects and served as a thought partner for collective impact and social justice efforts in the Valley. The LVRC’s annual State of the Lehigh Valley Report, produced from 2008-2021, highlighted key areas of interest for the region, such as the state of education, the quality of health, and the status of access for those with disabilities, all with the goal of starting community conversations. The LVRC and LVRC-based projects have included faculty and student researchers from every LVAIC campus, providing a unique opportunity for experiential learning and cross-campus collaborations. As outgoing Director, I would like to thank our campus leadership for supporting the LVRC and valuing community-based research. I am deeply grateful to our community partners for their collaboration and expertise. I would like to thank LVAIC staff, particularly Diane Dimitroff and Janet Baker, for their support and advocacy. I extend deep gratitude to former Director Dr. Hannah Stewart-Gambino and founding Director Dr. Michele Moser Deegan for their vision and dedication. And finally, I would like to especially thank all the faculty and Executive Committee members who have worked tirelessly in their contributions to projects, reports, and conferences. Without you, there would be no LVRC. We are incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished and the partnerships we have developed over the last twenty years, and our individual commitment as faculty researchers to collaborative community-based research will continue.
Christine Carpino
LVRC Director
Bridging Research & Community
The Lehigh Valley Research Consortium (LVRC) combined the expertise of researchers from institutions of higher education and community partners in the Lehigh Valley to examine various issues (e.g., political, economic, social, health, and environmental) and solutions in a regional context. Through its efforts, the LVRC served as a community-based information resource for Lehigh Valley governments, non-profits, and citizens concerned with the overall quality of life in the region.
This level of collaborative spirit made the LVRC unique among consortia. Faculty, working across disciplines and campuses, created community-focused reports to help inform policy decisions. This research provided the opportunity to engage students in applied research projects both inside and outside of the classroom.
Recognizing the growing regional identity of the Lehigh Valley and the interdependence of people, organizations, and markets, the LVRC acted as a resource to improve the lives of residents of Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Because many problems and issues appear local but affect the wider region, LVRC activities examined political, economic, social, health, and environmental issues and solutions in a regional context. The cross-institutional collaboration of the LVRC also provided an opportunity to enhance the quality of college classroom teaching by providing access to better data, more resources in the form of improved student research assistantships, faculty awards for local research projects, and by bringing together faculty members with similar areas of specialty to focus on regional topics.
The LVRC provided undergraduate and graduate students the chance for hands-on research experience in ongoing studies and enhances opportunities for both interdisciplinary and cross-institutional collaboration. LVRC served as a connection point among faculty members of multiple institutions that may share similar research interests with no vehicles for collaboration on local projects. University participation in local issues also created possibilities for community members to build relations with faculty and participate in LVRC events held on local college campuses, while also providing opportunities for academics to get involved in community agencies and events.
The LVRC concluded its projects and operations by the end of June 2025.
State of the Lehigh Valley
Previously, the Lehigh Valley Research Consortium published the State of the Lehigh Valley: Community Trends at a Glance, a report that showcases consortia faculty research on the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley region.
LVRC State of the Lehigh Valley Report & Presentations 2021
LVRC State of the Lehigh Valley Report 2019-2020
LVRC State of the Lehigh Valley Reports 2008-2018
LVRC State of the Lehigh Valley Reports – by authors and institution
Lehigh Valley Research Community
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Reviewed August 2026
