Edward Kahn ’83

Time at Lehigh
Kahn came to Lehigh as an engineering student, but the environment on South Mountain encouraged him to explore and experiment. Within his first year, he was working on stage as an actor. Soon he was pursuing both degrees. Over his time on campus he served as president of Mustard and Cheese, and during his junior year, he directed J.B. by Archibald MacLeish for the Theatre Department’s season at the Wilbur Drama Workshop in the old Power House theater.

“The department had enough faith in me to do that work, and I credit my directing mentor, Augustine Ripa, and a great bunch of talented, hard-working, and supportive classmates for its success,” he says.

After Lehigh
He worked as an engineer in materials analysis at IBM for three years. But he continued with theatre, connecting with some college students in his area to produce shows. He then left engineering and pursued an MFA in directing at Northwestern.

Lehigh invited him back as a sabbatical replacement for a semester, but he remained a bit longer to teach part time and direct a show. He earned his Ph.D. at Tufts in 2001. He set down more permanent roots in the Midwest, teaching theatre at Ohio Wesleyan for almost 20 years before retiring in 2020. 

Career Highlight
Rather than zero in on moments in his career, Kahn looks at others. “Seeing my students succeed is my highlight whether in theatre or other careers,” he says. “Theatre helps them learn to be creative, collaborative, and lead.”

Kahn notes that he is not made for the limelight but thrives behind the scenes. “I like working with the team and letting the work speak for itself rather than stand in the center of that,” he says.

Advice to your younger self
“Embrace the journey is what I’d tell myself,” he says. “And I credit my engineering experience with helping me think critically about performance and teaching.” That desire to investigate and explore never waned. During his tenure in Ohio, he continued to learn and travel, pursuing studies in Asian theatre in Hawaii and completing a Meisner training program. 

What’s next?
Sure, he’s taught a few courses over the last few years and helped his department through a reorganization. But true to form, Kahn is headed for a quick jaunt in NYC where he will watch a former student debut a show at the Public Theater. He will have time as well to check in on a few Lehigh friends.

Read the full story on Alumni News.