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In his address at Lehigh University’s Class of 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony last month, President Joseph J. Helble ’82 highlighted the vital role international students play in fostering a globally connected, intellectually diverse academic community.

“Global educational communities are, in my view, the very definition of an American research university, an American learning university,” Helble said. “To our graduating students, regardless of your degree or program, I’d ask you to think about what you have learned from those around you, from that geographically diverse global coalition of learners and scholars.”

A total of 1,485 graduates took the field at Goodman Stadium on May 18 during Lehigh University’s 157th Commencement. Of the 630 graduate students recognized during the ceremony, 177 (nearly 30%) were international students, as were 49 of the 108 Ph.D. graduates (45%).

Helble stressed that our international community is vital to Lehigh’s identity, saying the university is defined by a global exchange of ideas and by scholars and students who come together from around the world to engage in open dialogue and shared learning.

“All of you are a beautiful reminder that in a world too often marked by division, a university has brought you together from around the globe,” Helble said.

International students recognized during the commencement come from 39 different countries, including Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Iran, Nigeria, and Turkey.

In total, Lehigh University had 989 international students from 91 countries in the 2024-25 academic year, as well as 140 scholars from 42 countries. Last year, Lehigh’s international students contributed $62.3 million to the economy, supporting 690 jobs, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

In his commencement remarks, Helble said a university, by its very mission, brings people together from around the globe—a counter to the divisiveness seen in the broader world. The Lehigh community is framed as a collaborative, collective, adaptable group, he said, which are qualities made stronger by its international composition.

Citing Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Thomas L. Friedman, Helble referred to the development of mRNA vaccines as a product of a “global knowledge supply chain,” a concept he connected directly to global educational communities like those at Lehigh University.

“Congratulations, graduates. Lehigh is proud of you, of what you have done, and what you have accomplished as a truly global supportive community,” he said. “I cannot wait to see what the years will bring and all the good you will accomplish in this world.”

Positioning Lehigh as a premier destination for the world’s best students is among the strategic initiatives of Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), and is also consistent with the university-wide strategic plan, Inspiring the Future Makers.

OIA’s strategic initiatives also include ensuring that all students have access to international education experiences, and preparing Lehigh community members to be global learners, citizens, and leaders.