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Caroline Pinheiro Ronchini ‘27 knows firsthand how overwhelming it can be to start college in a new country. However, after arriving at Lehigh University from Brazil, she found a welcoming community during the International Student Orientation hosted by Lehigh’s Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).

Inspired by her own experience, Ronchini became an International Orientation Leader (iOL) to help others feel the same sense of belonging. These student role models serve a vital role in the transition of our first-year and transfer international students into the Lehigh community.

“Having to adapt to college was not easy, but I remember how welcomed I felt during International Orientation week, and I wanted to make others feel the same,” said Ronchini, who is pursuing a BA in Architecture. “Whenever I see any of my students around campus, they talk to me and thank us for how helpful the International Orientation Leaders have been.”

OISS is currently seeking applications for the next cohort of iOLs. Current undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in the position can apply here by Feb. 23.

“Being an International Orientation Leader is a unique opportunity to connect with people from around the world and make a lasting impact on new international students as they begin their journey at Lehigh,” said Amanda Connolly, Director of International Students and Scholars. “It’s a chance to help others, explore different cultures, and play a central role in their first-year orientation experience.

International Orientation Leaders lead small group activities and discussions to help students transition smoothly to university life. They often share their own personal experiences and offer guidance on academic, social, and cultural aspects of university life.

The role also helps iOLs build friendships, enhance their intercultural communication skills, and gain valuable leadership experience that will benefit them in their academic and professional futures, said Patricia Goldman, Assistant Director of International Student Engagement.

Angela Tibudan ‘26 called being an International Orientation Leader a rewarding and transformative experience that helped her feel globally connected through interactions with students from diverse cultural backgrounds. The program also provided her with lifelong friendships.

“Every day, I was able to learn something new about my fellow iOLs and the first-year students I was leading, all of us connected by that same desire to learn about each other, who we are, and where we came from, and to come together as one community here at Lehigh despite our different backgrounds and origins and ways of life,” Tibudan said.

“I've had so many insightful, reflective conversations with my fellow iOLs about what we each find meaningful in our lives and why, influenced by the ways in which we were brought up in our respective cultures,” she said. “That kind of tight-knit closeness, I think, is what it means to be of the world. And that's not something you can learn by sitting in a lecture hall.”

International Orientation Leaders are a vital part of pre-arrival coordination for international students, Goldman said. They take the buses to the Newark and JFK International Airports to collect students, bring them to campus, and help them move into their residence halls.

iOLs help lead a small group of about 12 to 15 new students through the program, Goldman said. They communicate with the students throughout the summer via email and WhatsApp, and often remain as a mentor for them well into the fall.

Tibudan described her experience as an iOL as one of several rewarding aspects from her time at Lehigh. She was partially inspired to enroll here due to the university’s Lehigh University/United Nations (LU/UN) Partnership, as well as the strength of the Lehigh’s Department of International Relations.

“My experience as an International Orientation Leader connects inherently with what I believe will end up being the defining aspect of my time at Lehigh,” said Tibudan, who is studying International Relations, Linguistics, and Political Science. “I truly feel like someone of the world here in my differing campus involvements and everyday interactions with professors and peers from a wide range of global backgrounds.”

International Orientation Leaders go through several hours of training in the spring and late summer to prepare for International Student Orientation, Goldman said. The orientation is mandatory for all international students who are new to Lehigh, including transfer students and students who have previously attended other schools in the United States.