Lehigh brings people together. From classes to clubs to chance meetings on campus, you never know whom you’ll meet — or which connections will shape the trajectory of your life. For first-generation engineers Rajan Jones ’20 and Tsion Taye ’20, Lehigh is where their paths first crossed and their futures took shape.
Early Beginnings
Taye’s family immigrated from Ethiopia when she was around 11 years old, and she spent the rest of her adolescence in Maryland. As a first-gen student, choosing a college meant finding a place that would allow her to explore multiple interests while offering a clear path forward. Lehigh’s Computer Science and Business Honors Program stood out.
Although Taye wasn’t certain engineering was her future, her uncle, a software engineer, had sparked her curiosity early on. Watching him code left a lasting impression, and the program gave her the space to discover how technical problem-solving could intersect with broader business goals. After participating in Collegiate Directions Inc., a program that supports first-generation students of color, she entered Lehigh with greater confidence in a field where women of color are often underrepresented.
Jones grew up in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where his interest in engineering began in childhood through building with Legos and a strong aptitude for science and math. With strong family encouragement, he sought out every opportunity available to him, including a computer design class in high school and Young Men and Women in Charge, an initiative supporting first-generation students of color pursuing STEM careers. Later, his participation in Lincoln University’s Upward Bound program proved pivotal. Program counselors encouraged him to consider Lehigh, recognizing his academic drive and passion for engineering.
“Looking back, it’s sort of funny,” Jones says. “It’s like Lehigh was calling to me, whether I knew it or not.”
Learning & Leading Together
Before their first semester began, both Jones and Taye participated in LUSSI, a three-week preparatory program designed to ease the transition to college. The experience introduced them to campus resources, faculty expectations, and a community of fellow first-generation students navigating similar paths. During LUSSI, they shared an English class and quickly recognized familiar traits in one another — discipline, curiosity, and a willingness to help others succeed.
“I am genuinely suspicious of a lot of things, but I do pay attention,” Taye says. “Rajan stood out to me from the beginning because of how he treated people. He held the door open for everyone, never failed to greet the staff who swiped our IDs, and was always willing to help. During LUSSI, when I struggled with MLA formatting for an essay, Rajan was there for me. He kept showing up, and each time, it softened me a little more.”
Jones added, “I knew she was really special early in the semester. Any opportunity I found, I tried to study with her, sit next to her in class, and spend time with her. Her intelligence, faith, and beauty let me know she was the one.”
By the end of their first semester, they were inseparable. The duo connected over shared kindness, humor, faith, academic pursuits, Gryphon status, and a love of travel.
Both students took full advantage of experiential learning opportunities. Together, they studied abroad in Germany, expanding their global perspective and deepening their relationship. Taye later studied in South Korea, while Jones traveled to Peru. On campus, both served on the executive board of Lehigh’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, Jones as president and Taye as treasurer — committed to being the representation they wanted to see in the industry. In addition, both were active members of campus faith ministries, including Cru and InterVarsity.
Designing What's Next
Graduation marked a deeply emotional milestone.
“My parents sacrificed so much to come here,” Taye says. “They worked hard and left everything behind to bring our family here and start over. The only thing that gave them hope was seeing our success.”
For Jones, commencement came with a sense of catharsis.
“We’re the sum of what people pour into us,” he says. “My family supported me at every step. In that moment, I got to clap for myself and for everybody who helped make this dream a reality. I didn’t succeed on merit alone; it was thanks to the long nights, firm hands, and many prayers my family provided.”
Today, Jones and Taye are thriving engineers in North Carolina. Taye is a software developer at Fidelity, and Jones is a product definition engineer at GE Aerospace. Outside work, they enjoy playing tennis, trying new things — like learning to swim and ride bikes together — and engaging with their church congregation. Looking back, they see God’s faithfulness in guiding them to Lehigh and each other.
Together, they’re embarking on their most important project yet: building a beautiful life together as a married couple.
