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Gabby Feinstein ’26, Rasanee Thapa ’27, and Evan Qi ’26

Photos by Evan Qi

The alumni experience begins on day one.

Some of the most valuable perspectives we gain are those of students. The Lehigh Liners, the Association of Student Alumni (ASAs), and our student employees allow future alumni voices to be heard before their graduation day, which means we can continue to support a network that grows as our community grows.

Meet the students working with the marketing and communications team in Development and Alumni Relations to deliver engaging and creative content that supports alumni of all ages.

Our Student Employees

A female student with long dark hair wears a red shirt and a shy smile while standing in front of Alumni Memorial building.

Major: Graphic Design
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal

What have you learned from your work with Development and Alumni Relations? Working in Development and Alumni Relations has made me realize the importance of teamwork, especially for an introvert who tries to avoid it. I've learned to step outside my comfort zone and interact with others in ways I never imagined possible. I have learned making a connection doesn't always have to be loud or boring but can also be fun and engaging and can have a great impact. This experience has helped me gain confidence in myself and improve my ability to speak effectively, especially in social circumstances.

What have you learned about yourself in this role? This role has taught me a lot of things about myself that I never knew. One of them is that being an introvert doesn’t mean I can’t be confident and socially active. I’ve always been someone who prefers quieter settings, but I’ve realized that doesn’t have to limit my ability to engage with others. Through the different opportunities that Development and Alumni Relations has given me, I have grown to be more comfortable in social and professional settings, which I initially found pretty tough.

How has your work with us impacted/reinforced/changed your career goals or interests? Development and Alumni Relations has given me an opportunity to work on creative projects such as photography, videography, brainstorming ideas, and producing social media graphics while still being a part of a fun and supportive team. This has made my experience even more fulfilling. Throughout the time I have been working here, my interest in making creative content — especially photography — has grown a lot. With the beautiful campus that Lehigh offers, I have the opportunity to capture the stunning architecture, candid moments of students, day-to-day student life, and zen moments. Getting to share them with the alumni community and reading their nostalgic memories in the comments have driven me to continue photography along with my graphic design studies in the future.

A male student with short dark hair wears a black hooded sweatshirt and broad smile as he poses for his photo in front of Alumni Memorial.

Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

What have you learned from your work with Development and Alumni Relations? Working with Development and Alumni Relations has significantly enhanced my understanding of social media strategy, particularly in crafting content tailored directly to our audience’s interests. It truly fascinates me to consider what type of content will generate the most buzz and excitement among alumni. For example, I’ve learned that sharing content featuring campus landmarks and dormitories consistently sparked vibrant conversations and nostalgia in the comments — something I find incredibly satisfying. Additionally, this role has exposed me to numerous departments, groups, and campus resources. By collaborating closely with these groups during story features, I’ve learned a lot about their offerings and appreciated the opportunity to share these with the wider community so that everyone can experience this as well.

What drew you to the opportunity to work with our marketing and communications team? I’ve always been passionate about photography, and it has been my creative outlet. When I first arrived at college, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to apply for the digital content assistant role within the Marketing and Communications team. I saw this position as an exciting chance to merge my love for photography with the strategic aspects of social media marketing. I was eager to learn how my skills in visual storytelling could highlight the distinctive spirit of Lehigh through my unique perspective. Since joining, I’ve been fortunate enough to showcase a distinct viewpoint of campus life, creating content that has resonated widely with the alumni community.

What does being part of the Lehigh community mean to you? Being part of the Lehigh community has profoundly broadened my perspectives on the world. The university is a perfect size that allows for meaningful connections across diverse perspectives, fostering both personal and intellectual growth. As someone who is driven by curiosity and a drive to continually learn, I found immense value in the educational experience both inside and outside the classroom. Conversations with fellow students and alumni have consistently broadened my perspectives on various subjects that go beyond academics. This makes me feel deeply connected and grateful to be a part of such an inspiring, inclusive, and bright community.

Wearing a dark green sweater, a female student with dark hair poses for a photo while standing in front of Alumni Memorial.

Major: Marketing
Hometown: Gig Harbor, Washington

What have you learned from your work with Development and Alumni Relations? I've learned how important it is to be adaptable when working in a social media space. From the outside, you never see how many small tasks go into digital marketing, but working here has shown me how essential it is to stay on top of everything, even as a work study employee. I've really enjoyed being able to see the ins and outs of our Development and Alumni Relations and how much work is being put into keeping our alumni connected.

What drew you to the opportunity to work with our marketing and communications team? I've always enjoyed creating social media content and getting to be creative in that way, and I was still trying to figure out which marketing path was the best for me. I was searching for a new work study opportunity and stumbled across this one and immediately loved everything about the opportunity to experiment and create whatever I could come up with. I've received so much helpful guidance along the way, and I've loved this opportunity more than I could've imagined when I was applying.

What have you learned about yourself in this role? This role has given me the opportunity to figure out exactly what I like about marketing and what kinds of careers I would be interested in. Although I've always been interested in social media, this work study has solidified that it's something I would enjoy doing in the future. I've also learned a lot about tapping into my creative side and that I shouldn't be afraid to pitch any ideas that could be too silly or crazy.