The second semester on South Mountain solidified the connections among the Soaring Together scholars and mentors. As their first year came to a close, the scholars found a new role for themselves while the next class became introduced to the opportunities that the Soaring Together Scholarship Program provided in their first year. It’s exciting to see how stronger bonds and solid program support are producing new ideas and action from the first class of scholars!
If you are an alumnus passionate about mentorship and gender equity, please contact Morgan Nelson ’19G, senior director of alumnae engagement and program manager for the Soaring Together scholarship program.
Spring 2024 Recap
The scholars had lunch with Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi and learned about her role as a gender justice expert. Nwadinobi, a medical doctor and women’s health activist, is the first Nigerian elected as president of the Medical Women’s International Association. She is also co-founder of the Every Woman Treaty, a coalition advocating for ending violence against women and girls. In addition to spending time with the Soaring Together scholars, she met with campus members and provided a keynote lecture.
Founder and managing partner of Circle Wealth Management, a women-owned independent wealth advisory firm, Maria Chrin '87 '10P has been committed to supporting the Soaring Together program since its launch. This spring, she hosted Soaring Together Scholarship cohort members at the Cosmopolitan Club in New York City.
As a member of the Soaring Together scholarship cohort, Mark Alpert '70 has continuously been an active mentor of the program. During his recent visit to campus, he once again graciously spent time engaging with scholars, particularly those focusing on engineering. He provided scholars with a valuable opportunity to glean insights from his wealth of experience and expertise in the field. Through meaningful discussions and exchanges, scholars benefitted from Alpert's guidance, enhancing their academic pursuits and professional aspirations.
At the scholarship celebration dinner on April 18, scholars had an opportunity to connect with alumni members of the Soaring Together cohort. This gathering brought an exchange of experiences, insights, and invaluable mentorship, fostering meaningful connections between past and present beneficiaries of the program. As scholars engage with these alumni, they will gain valuable perspectives and guidance to further enrich their academic and personal journeys.
Scholars Take the Lead
Morgan Nelson, Carly Dickerson, associate director of the Center for Gender Equity, and Jennifer Cunningham, associate vice president of alumni relations, convened with the cohort of nine incoming scholars, who will be joining our community in the fall, alongside the current members of the Soaring Together program. The meeting served as a valuable opportunity for mentorship, guidance, and building connections.
After a successful first year as part of the Lehigh community and as Soaring Together scholars, the students had great momentum moving into the summer. To prepare, they met with Michele Spada, program manager for Creative Inquiry, and Bill Whitney, assistant vice provost for experiential learning programs, to learn about opportunities for experiential learning. As a result, many of the scholars are spending their summers gaining fantastic hands-on experiences.
A number have joined the Global Social Impact Fellowship trips. Amelie Fry ’27 and Olivia Meyer ’27 are traveling to Sierra Leone, Asha Marwaha ’27 to India, and Jing Yan ’27 to the Philippines. In addition, Roisin Gaffney ’27 and Lydia Sheeser ’27 are journeying to Uganda through Iacocca Internships. Others are spending a portion of their summer in Granada (Zoe Ford ’27) and Silicon Valley (Alex McWatters ’27).
