Written by Colin McEvoy | October 28, 2025 | SHARE
Five members of the Lehigh women’s basketball team studied abroad this summer, part of a program philosophy that encourages global learning and personal growth beyond the court.
Lily Fandre ‘26 had always hoped to study abroad during her time at Lehigh University, but assumed it would be impossible. Entering her senior year, she will be a co-captain of the women’s basketball team this season, and she expected summer training to leave little room for anything else.
However, she ended up spending five weeks studying environmental science in Athens this summer, marking her first trip overseas. Between classes, she had opportunities to explore the country’s culture and coastline and visit the islands of Crete, Paros, and Santorini.
“The coaches are so amazing about wanting us to grow as people and take every opportunity we can,” Fandre said. “I developed so many new skills through my time studying abroad. My confidence and independence have truly grown, and I think that will help me on the court, too.”
While it’s uncommon for Division I athletes at other schools to study abroad, Fandre was one of five members of the Lehigh women’s basketball team who did so this summer, immersing themselves in new cultures in Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Their experiences reflect the program’s holistic philosophy of developing the whole person—not just in athletics, but also in academics, leadership, and life beyond basketball. It also mirrors Lehigh’s broader mission to foster well-rounded graduates prepared to be global learners, citizens, and leaders.
“We want them to go explore the world, then come back and share what they learned with their team,” said Head Coach Addie Micir, who led the Mountain Hawks to win the 2025 Patriot League Championship last year, earning themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament. “If they're developed as a whole person, they're going to be a better basketball player.”
Lessons beyond the court
Also this past summer, Gracyn Lovette ‘27 analyzed European marketing in Barcelona, while Jessie Ozzauto ‘27 studied the history of Western medicine in Florence. Katie Hurt ‘26 shadowed surgeons in Milan, and Belle Bramer ‘28 studied marketing in Belgium before competing with the international team in the FISU World Games in Taiwan.
Micir said the coaching staff fully supports players who choose to study abroad or take internships, even if it means missing part of the team’s six-week summer training program. Traveling and studying abroad require the same focus and resilience they bring to the court, and reinforced lessons like teamwork, communication, and adaptability.
“Our players who come back from these experiences are refreshed,” Micir said. “They have a broader understanding of the world, and they’ve learned things about themselves that make them stronger teammates and leaders.”
Hurt, who is majoring in philosophy and health, medicine & society at Lehigh, shadowed surgeons in oncology, colorectal surgery, and pathology at Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori during her studies in Milan through the Atlantis program. Her first solo trip abroad, the experience instilled independence and self-confidence.
“I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, meet people, and experience new places,” Hurt said. “I learned more about myself—about being on my own and see that there’s more to life than outside of what we see and live from day to day.”
Finding confidence abroad
Bramer took marketing classes in Leuven, Belgium, with field trips to places like Antwerp and Brussels. The only athlete in her cohort, she said her leadership and communication skills from the court helped her navigate group dynamics and travel logistics.
“Studying abroad was actually a small reason why I was so interested in committing here for basketball,” Bramer said. “I asked my coaches if it was an issue, and they said, ‘No, we support it. We really want you to go abroad and get internships over the summer.’ That was a huge part of why I committed here.”
Ozzauto wanted to study abroad, but only for a brief period of time so she could return for summer training. The myriad options gave her the flexibility she needed, and she found a three-week program in Florence that fit perfectly around summer training.
“I was kind of on the fence about wanting to study abroad, but our coaches and staff were so adamant about that if you have this gut feeling, you should do it,” she said. “They talk about needing to lead yourself before you can lead the team, and I think them pushing us to go abroad is a great way to find yourself and experience doing things alone.”
A tradition of holistic growth
This philosophy is not new for the team. Maddie Albrecht ‘25 studied in Copenhagen in the summer of 2023, and went on to win Patriot League MVP last year. Frannie Hottinger ‘23, injured in her junior season, studied in Barcelona and returned newly motivated, setting a single-season scoring record with 630 points in her senior year.
“Sometimes they worry they’re going to lose progress if they go abroad,” Micir said, “but instead they come back refreshed, with a more worldly experience and an idea of life outside their bubble.”
Lovette, who will be team co-captain along with Fandre this season, said she would strongly encourage any student—athlete or otherwise—to study abroad because of the perspective and life experiences it brings.
“One of our philosophies is ‘Better me, better we,’ and studying abroad really plays into that,” she said. “You have these experiences, develop and learn more about yourself, and then you come back to the team a better person, and a better player.”