Summer is in the rearview mirror, but the memories of time well spent will stay with the students who traveled through Lehigh programs over their summer break. These valuable experiences give Lehigh’s future alumni a jumpstart for success on a global scale.
Check out Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to discover more adventures of the ambitious and motivated students taking every opportunity a Lehigh education has to offer. If you are inspired to engage with future alumni, please reach out to AlumniRelations@Lehigh.edu.
Lorraine Rwasoka ’26
Major: Pre-Med/Engineering
Barcelona, Spain – Iacocca Internship: Barcelona Customized Internship (IES Abroad)
“My experience with the Iacocca International Internship in Barcelona was truly transformative. Working with the incredible MedBio team, I gained invaluable tech and soft skills and learned the importance of precision medicine and startup culture, such as launching a product and all it takes to do it.
“This opportunity greatly enriched my personal and professional growth, thanks to the guidance of my amazing supervisor, Sarah Holmes, and the support from the Iacocca admin team — Carol Strange ’11G, Ana [Anastassiya Perevezentseva ’18], Abby [Hill] — the Office of International Affairs, IES Abroad, and the study abroad office at Lehigh. Exploring Barcelona and parts of Europe further deepened my appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives. I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this journey possible.”
Sanvi Bhatnagar ’26
Major: Population Health/Health, Medicine, & Society
Manilla, Philippines – Global Social Impact Fellowship
“Going to the Philippines with Lehigh’s Creative Inquiry was a remarkable experience beyond anything I’ve ever done before. From my background as a pre-med student studying population health in the College of Health, I gained immersive and tangible involvement through my project, TrackTB. Our mission was to enhance tuberculosis treatment adherence in the Philippines, leveraging both high-tech and low-tech solutions.
"My team, like the rest of Creative Inquiry, was made up of students from all different majors and interests who worked together to create worldwide change. We were able to meet with doctors, TB survivors, TB advocates, healthcare workers, clinics, and many more integral people who propel the journey to eradicating tuberculosis in the Philippines.
"This opportunity was extremely valuable to me because not only did it impact my life and the trajectory of my career, but it also allowed me to spread impact through the many interactions, meetings, and presentations we had. I am grateful to everyone I met in Manila, as well as the advisers who helped me get there, Sean Vassilaros, Khanjan Mehta, and Bill Whitney.”
Roisin Gaffney ’27
Major: Business
Uganda, Africa – Iacocca Internship
“I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to intern in Bududa, Uganda, this past summer. I was one of 15 Lehigh University students working with the Pathways Development Initiative (PDI), an NGO in Bududa dedicated to developing sustainable livelihoods for children in the community facing extreme poverty. Throughout the two months I spent in Uganda, I taught English lessons to 3- and 4-year-old students and assisted with developing lesson plans and grading assignments at the pre-primary school. I also spent a majority of my time in the office creating virtual fundraising campaigns, developing a system to track the skills and attendance of players in the sports program, and facilitating informational workshops with teachers and PDI employees to improve data collection and analysis skills.
“Finally, I coached soccer every afternoon with a focus on strengthening the female sports program to empower more young girls in the community to participate in sports. I conducted assessments at schools throughout the district to check in on the players and discover what challenges they were facing outside practice, whether this was at home or at school.
“My perspective on life and the world has been completely transformed after taking part in this internship. I will never forget the rewarding experiences I had during my time in Uganda, and I’m extremely grateful for all of the Lehigh students and PDI employees I was able to form close friendships with! I would also like to thank the Iacocca International Internship Program, Dean [Kelly] Austin, Professor [Mark] Noble, and the Zaale family, who allowed us into their home, as this opportunity would have never been possible otherwise!”
Lydia Sheeser ’27
Major: Health, Medicine, and Society/Biology
Uganda, Africa – Iacocca Internship
“This summer I had the opportunity to live and work in Bududa, a rural village in Uganda. Our group partnered with Pathways Development Initiative (PDI), a local NGO working to eliminate the immense poverty that its community members are facing. Lehigh professors Kelly Austin and Mark Noble have led this trip for 13 years, working and living with the founders of PDI. I was supported by the Iacocca Internship to learn from and support the PDI staff with administrative work.
“In the office, we helped with grant research, fundraising campaigns, assessment sheets, and even joined the kids for soccer practice! I also shadowed in a health clinic and learned how the staff works incredibly hard with the few resources they have.
“This experience was so impactful that I plan to return to Uganda next summer with my own research project! I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with the incredible people in Bududa and experience the beauty of Uganda, something that would not have been possible without the Iacocca program, Professors Austin and Noble, and the wonderful Zaale family, who welcomed us into their organization and home.”
