Written by Colin McEvoy | October 1, 2025 | SHARE
Families and students planted succulents, painted pots, and discovered Lehigh’s international programs at the Office of International Affairs' “Sprout Your Global Journey” open house during Family Weekend.
As flowerpots filled with soil and paintbrushes brightened their surfaces at Lehigh’s Global Union last week, conversations bloomed about the many global opportunities offered through the university’s Office of International Affairs (OIA).
Dozens of families visited OIA’s offices on Friday for “Sprout Your Global Journey,” part of Lehigh’s Family Weekend. The open house event invited parents and students to plant succulents, decorate their pots, and learn more about Lehigh’s global mission and the many international programs OIA provides.
“I didn’t realize how much OIA encompassed,” said Vivian Altamura of Secaucus, N.J., whose son Jayden ‘29 is a first-year mechanical engineering student. “I was pleasantly surprised by the range of global experiences. Not just study abroad, but also research opportunities that will take his interest to the next level.”
Global Union tables were lined with soil, pots, paints, and markers for Family Weekend visitors to enjoy, while poster displays highlighted student success stories from OIA initiatives such as the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS), Lee Iacocca Institute for Global Leadership, International Center for Academic and Professional English (ICAPE).
“Honestly, the real reason I came here was to decorate this pot and get a succulent,” said Ash Dodge ‘27, a mechanical engineering major originally from California’s Bay Area. “But I am interested in studying abroad, and coming in here has made me realize how many of those opportunities are available.”
Altamura asked about various Global Lehigh programs, including the Study Abroad office, the Passport to Success program, and the LU/UN Partnership, which provides opportunities for all Lehigh students, faculty, and staff to engage with the United Nations in meaningful ways.
She also learned about Lehigh’s Office of Creative Inquiry, which supports interdisciplinary initiatives that help students and faculty explore new ideas, innovations, and expressions. OIA and Creative Inquiry have partnered several times on international programs.
One of the stories highlighted on the event’s poster displays was that of Dagmawit, Mahlet, and Eyob Abate, three siblings from Ethiopia who are all attending Lehigh as international students. They are thriving together while discovering academic support, cultural community, and shared opportunities through OISS and Lehigh’s global programs.
Other posters highlighted Zena Meighan '24, whose participation in Passport to Success helped lead her to teach abroad in Japan; Rhema Hooper ‘26, who spoke at the United Nations about child labor in war zones; and Emily Buchanan ‘25, whose internship in Moldova supported that country’s efforts to meet European Union sustainability standards.
This marked the first year “Sprout Your Global Journey” was included in Lehigh’s Family Weekend. It was supported by a Global Lehigh Incentive Grant through the efforts of OIA Administrative Coordinator Rebecca Lockard, International Student Advisor Linnan Tartaglia, and Communications Manager Colin McEvoy.
The Global Lehigh Incentive Grants support creative projects within OIA that advance the goals of the Global Lehigh plan, in coordination with the office’s four strategic initiatives, according to Cheryl Matherly, Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs at Lehigh.
Family Weekend is a long-standing Lehigh tradition that invites parents, families, and friends to campus for a weekend of activities, academic insights, and community events, from barbecues and tailgates to cheering on the Mountain Hawks.