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By her first year at Lehigh University, Ana Sofia Mendoza ‘27 had already been operating on a global stage through her work at the United Nations, where she represented the Armenian nonprofit organization Nor Luyce through Lehigh’s UN Youth Representative Program.

She took that international engagement a step further this summer, working directly for Nor Luyce in Armenia through Iacocca International Internship Program (IIIP). The organization aims to empower adolescent girls from socially vulnerable families through mentorship, skills development, and support, helping them pursue higher education and cultivate personal and professional growth.

“It was great, because of course I was already familiar with and supportive of Nor Luyce’s mission, but experiencing it in person and seeing the girls they were helping one-on-one really gave me a whole new perspective on the work they do,” said Mendoza, who is majoring in Sociology and Political Science on a pre-law track, with plans to pursue family law.

Mendoza’s experience with the Lehigh University/United Nations (LU/UN) Partnership and IIIP illustrates the many ways students can take advantage of global educational opportunities through the programs of Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA).

She has also worked in Lehigh’s study abroad office through the work-study program, will participate in the Global Citizenship Program in the fall, and is applying to study overseas as part of Global Exchange Lehigh (GEL), OIA’s bilateral exchange program.

“Ana Sofia has definitely made the most of the opportunities available at Lehigh to immerse herself in a global context,” said Katie Radande, Director of Study Abroad at Lehigh and Interim Director of IIIP. “By working directly with international nonprofits like Nor Luyce, students not only gain professional experience, but also develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by communities worldwide.”

Experiencing the Culture Firsthand

Mendoza worked as a grant writer intern during her time with Nor Luyce this summer, helping to identify funding opportunities and create proposals to secure financial support for the organization. These funds also help support various projects Nor Luyce is undertaking, including developing strategies to help Armenian teachers combat bullying in schools.

Nor Lucye was founded by Lehigh alumna and former Fulbright Fellow Shogher Mikaelyan. It began hosting Iacocca interns in 2023, starting with Brianna Banful '24. In addition to Mendoza, Lehigh students Okeorisa Nkululeko '25 and Montserrat Escobedo '26 interned there this summer.

Mendoza described the internship as highly rewarding, especially seeing the real-world impact of the nonprofit’s work on the young girls in the program. Though language barriers limited direct communication with the participants, the emotional connection she witnessed among the girls highlighted the success of the program.

“I didn’t speak any Armenian, and they didn’t speak any English, but just seeing the bond they had with the staff members and other girls in the program really made an impression on me and showed me how effective the program was,” Mendoza said.

Although internships are less common among freshmen, Mendoza was encouraged to apply in her first year at Lehigh thanks to guidance from IIIP, OIA, and leaders at Nor Luyce. She said the experience in Armenia broadened her global perspective and deepened her understanding of international development and nonprofit work.

The Impact of Not-for-Profit Work

The internship also allowed her to experience Armenian culture firsthand, throughout the country as well as in Gyumri, the country’s second-largest city and where Nor Lucye is based. Additionally, she engaged with the organization’s volunteers from France, Germany, and beyond, gaining a more diverse global perspective.

Mendoza was born in the United States but moved to Peru at one month old and lived there for 16 years before relocating to Oregon. She plans to minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS), partially inspired by her work with Nor Luyce and motivated by a class that introduced her to gender analysis.

Mendoza ultimately aspires to start a law firm providing affordable legal services to low-income families. She believes her internship with Nor Luyce and her experience as a UN Youth Representative have helped her develop professional skills such as networking, writing, and public speaking, which align with her long-term goals.

“I feel I've grown so significantly through these programs,” she said. “It has really helped me see the big impact not-for-profit work can have on people, and give them the resources to access higher-quality education and additional resources that can help them.”