La Salle alum recognized by President Bush

By Maureen Kolodziej
Collegian Editor
August 30, 2006

In 1975, just three years after graduating from La Salle University, Jack Lund began working for the largest YMCA in North America.

Today, Lund is the president and CEO of the organization and was recently appointed by President Bush to the Communty Development Advisory Board of Greater New York.

It was Lund’s time at La Salle, however, that encouraged him further to realize that he wanted to serve people for the rest of his life.

Lund, a native of Bethlehem, Pa. received his bachelor’s degree at La Salle in political science. When first entering college, Lund thought about law school.

After taking two very influential political science professors, Phil Mc Govern and Frank Nathans, Lund decided to major in political science.

He describes his experiences at La Salle as an interesting time to be on campus. He says the '60s and the '70s brought many opportunities to think about what was important and finding ways to serve poor communities. It was inside La Salle’s campus, though, that Lund was able to put his love of service into practice.

“La Salle was a rich environment for young people connecting with communities,” he says.

As an undergraduate, Lund took political science, economics and sociology classes.

“At La Salle, we [the students] were taught to think,” he says.

Although La Salle helped Lund move in the right direction, his parents also fostered in him the idea of service. Lund’s mother was a scout leader and his father was a CYO coach.

Upon graduating from La Salle, Lund worked with kids in public housing. He also served as a youth service director in his hometown and worked at a local camp.

When he started at the YMCA in New York more than 30 years ago, he held various positions from being a program director, to his current position as the president and CEO.

As president and CEO, Lund led an initiative that included a $10 million annual commitment to improve facilities and programs for central city youths and families.

In addition, the initiative included the opening of seven new YMCAs in Milwaukee.

“It’s an honor to serve my county in this way,” Lund said, regarding his appointment to the Community Development Advisory Board.

In his free time, Lund enjoys running, golfing and playing the piano.

His advice for college students, “do what you love. Don’t worry about the money.”

kolodziejm1@lasalle.edu