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Eoin Ahearne is a long way from his home country of Ireland, but he quickly felt at home during his first weeks at Lehigh University.

A student from the University of Galway, Ahearne is studying in Lehigh this semester through the Global Exchange Lehigh (GEL) program. He experienced a warm welcome, complete with organized trips and events that helped him and other international students settle in.

“The first two weeks were fantastic,” Ahearne said. “The trips, the activities—they really helped us settle in quickly.”

Lehigh recently enhanced and revitalized GEL, which is part of the Office of International Affairs’ (OIA) study abroad office. GEL is a bilateral exchange program designed to welcome inbound international students from institutional partners and provide outbound students with enriching opportunities abroad.

Jodeen Joyner, Senior Study Abroad Advisor and Exchange Program Manager, said GEL said the goal is to create a vibrant community that promotes cultural exchange and academic integration. Although the exchange program has existed for years, the formal rebranding and expanded programming have been underway for just over a year. 

 "We’ve implemented a more structured approach to activities and support, aiming to create a sense of belonging for our inbound students," Joyner said. "I act as a liaison between the students and various offices on campus, ensuring they receive the support they need throughout their journey.”

After students are accepted, they engage in events beyond traditional orientation, including field trips and social gatherings to immerse them in Lehigh culture. Highlights include excursions to local attractions like Jim Thorpe, Pa., a fall tailgate party, and events during International Education Week. 

Ahearne praised the orientation program for guiding GEL students through campus life. He was able to open up about his journey at Lehigh, highlighting the stark contrasts between the two institutions.

“Even though the University of Galway has about 18,000 students, the campus feels much larger,” Ahearne said. “Lehigh is smaller in the number of students it has, but it’s impressive how engaged everyone is here. The lectures are brilliant, and the professors really connect with us.”

Though Ahearne has been at Lehigh for only a short time, he’s already joined the rugby and soccer teams. He also believes his international experience will boost his future job prospects, especially since Lehigh was recently ranked #15 in The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 Best Colleges in the United States.

Ten international students are participating in GEL this week. One of them is Rishon Mathew, from Ashoka University in India. He has already graduated with an economics degree, so this year at Lehigh he can take additional courses of interest or work on a minor.

“I came to Lehigh last summer for the Hatchery program and really liked it,” he said. “I made a lot of friends, and after I went back, my friends kept saying I should come back.”

The Hatchery is an immersive, full-time learning experience at Lehigh’s Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Innovation. Through the program, participants apply design thinking and lean startup methods to develop solutions to big problems and test potential business ideas.

Mathew said the Hatchery has allowed him to develop ideas he first conceived at home, through the assistance of Lehigh’s faculty and prototyping resources.

“If my project with the entrepreneurship department goes well, it could be the start of something great,” he said.

The program's revival is an essential step in fostering a more inclusive campus environment, Joyner said. 

“People here [at Lehigh] are genuinely interested in international students,” Ahearne said. “The moment they know you’re from abroad, they want to chat and get to know you. There’s a strong sense of pride in their university, which I admire.”

By bringing in a diverse group of students, we’re fostering a richer learning environment, Joyner said. She emphasized that the goal is to create a community that feels welcoming, where students can build lasting connections and feel like they are part of the Lehigh family.

The program encourages full-time Lehigh students to become involved as “GEL fellows”, providing opportunities for them to engage with their international peers and even receive funding for study abroad experiences. 

As the GEL program continues to grow, Joyner hopes to establish a network that persists even after students return to their home institutions. 

“It’s a great opportunity to do something different, and I’m so glad I took this chance,” Ahearne said.