In 2004, Lehigh University became the sixth university in the world to gain Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status with the United Nations. This designation gives the university rare access to the world’s largest intergovernmental organization. Each year more than 1,000 Lehigh faculty, staff and students attend UN conferences, high-level briefings and private meetings with ambassadors and other UN officials in New York City and on campus.
By the Numbers
The UN Connection
students are UN NGO Youth Representatives
students have interned at the United Nations
Ambassadors from around the world have spoken at Lehigh
Our Team
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/Elena-Reiss.jpg?itok=wrezm8lV)
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/Helen-Rivera.jpg?itok=-4PTFxln)
Representatives and Interns
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/headshot%2C%20liguori_0.jpg?itok=6-4DEuGQ)
Krista Liguori, PhD, MSPH
Assistant Professor
Dept of Community & Population Health
Alternate Representative to the United Nations
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/LehighHeadShotPhoto-Vinod.jpg?itok=m_7ORk42)
Vinod Namboodiri, PhD
Professor
Computer Science and Engineering, and College of Health
Alternate Representative to the United Nations
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/IMG_1917.jpeg?itok=WEaYey-W)
Zoe Metzger
Lehigh University / United Nations Partnership Intern
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/Berman_Jessica_Headshot_0.jpeg?itok=dsO8toWc)
Jessica Berman
Lehigh University / United Nations Youth Representative
Health Focus
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_0.png?itok=4XRrSTKB)
Layne Fennell
Lehigh University / United Nations Communications Intern
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-02%20at%204.00.18%20PM.png?itok=JEFhpnkk)
Julie Wright
Lehigh University / United Nations Partnership Intern
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/MaryHighland.jpg?itok=a0qOAXZP)
Mary Highland
Lehigh University / United Nations Communications Intern
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/Keh%2C%20Trinity%20photo_0.jpg?itok=Gv2kJUP0)
Trinity Keh
Digital Media Marketing and Brand Integrity Intern
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_0.png?itok=nEH4y9mp)
Batoul Bazine
Videographer
![](https://global.lehigh.edu/sites/global.lehigh.edu/files/styles/grid_content/public/grid/Untitled%20design_0.png?itok=IxtUnRQE)
Sam Barney-Gibbs
Strategic Planning Intern