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Hannah Hagley ‘26, an Earth and Environmental Science major at Lehigh University, is spending fall semester ‘24 immersed in Panama’s rich ecosystems as part of a field-based program with the School for International Training (SIT). 

Through SIT, Hagley is studying comparative tropical ecology and human ecology while also conducting independent research. 

“The main focus of this program is that it’s field-oriented,” she said. 

Each of her classes includes excursions into diverse ecosystems where she can immediately apply her knowledge, Hagley said.

For example, her recent studies on ichthyology (the study of fish) involved identifying species during snorkeling excursions in coral reefs. This hands-on approach, Hagley said, has allowed her to connect deeply with the material. 

“I’ve taken a lot of classes at Lehigh about these ecosystems,” she said, “but obviously, because Lehigh is in Pennsylvania, I haven’t been able to do a lot of fieldwork related to my major.”

Brian Wasserman, Hagley’s study abroad advisor at Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), said there were distinctive elements that drew her to SIT’s field-based structure in Panama.

“Students in SIT programs like Hannah’s spend extensive time in natural and community settings, often incorporating homestays as part of the cultural immersion,” he said.

The ability to incorporate research or internships is a unique feature, Wasserman said, adding that this kind of experiential focus allows students like Hannah to engage deeply with the local environment and gain practical experience in their major.

Hagley’s experience in Panama builds on Lehigh’s long standing relationship with Latin America, with past Lehigh initiatives across the region, including a visit from President Joseph J. Helble '82 last year to Panama and other countries in the area.

Since Lehigh’s founding, it has fostered close ties with the region, welcoming some of its earliest international students from Brazil in the 1860s and celebrating notable alumni like Ernesto Tisdel Lefevre, a Lehigh graduate who served as President of Panama in 1920. 

These ongoing ties highlight how international experiences, like Hagley’s study in Panama, are integral to the Lehigh experience, providing students with unique perspectives and opportunities to explore diverse cultures and ecosystems.

However, this semester in Panama is not Hagley’s first transformative experience abroad. 

Over the summer, she worked in Uganda through the Iacocca International Internship Program (IIIP), conducting research on the coffee industry alongside Lehigh Professor Kelly Austin. 

"It was one of the best experiences of my life,” Hagley said. Working closely with local coffee farmers and traders, she said she was able to explore the impact of climate change on the industry, which offered her a unique perspective on the community and environment.

The back-to-back experiences in Uganda and Panama have inspired Hagley to consider an international path for her future.

 “I definitely see these experiences opening up a lot of doors with things I could do later on that would be abroad,” she said. “I might consider doing my master’s abroad or living internationally at some point.”

Despite the thrill of her studies, Hagley noted some challenges—especially the language barrier in Panama. 

“I have never taken Spanish before,” she said, but praised her classmates for helping her adapt. Overall, she describes the cultural adjustment as smooth, thanks in part to the supportive group of American students on her program.

For students hesitant to study internationally, Hagley offered advice: “I remember the couple of weeks leading up to Uganda, I was absolutely terrified…but it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life.” 

She said she encourages others to push past initial fears and embrace the discomfort that comes with new environments.

 “Even if you have a bad experience, you’ll grow a lot as a person and learn more about yourself.”

As she navigates Panama’s ecosystems and culture, Hagley continues to gain invaluable insights for her future—whatever part of the world that may lead her to next.