NEWS

This summer, Lehigh University students Tommy Anderson ‘24 and Izzy Canadine ‘27 served as Summer Fellows at the Office of International Affairs (OIA), gaining invaluable experience and developing proposals to enhance Lehigh’s international programs.

During the full-time summer fellowship program, they have immersed themselves in OIA’s work, rotating through the office’s various programs and departments. This hands-on experience provided them valuable insights into the international education field and helped them explore potential career paths.

The fellowship culminated with the July 25 presentation of their Capstone Projects, where they were challenged to propose new programs to strengthen OIA's campus engagement and support a globally connected community.

Capstone Projects

Canadine’s project proposes a partnership between Lehigh and Native tribal colleges and organizations, bridging gaps between Native and non-Native students and enhancing educational and cultural opportunities. She noted that many Native students face limited funding and opportunities, emphasizing the need for better educational support and resources. 

“There are many tribal colleges, Native groups, and scholarships out there seeking ways to contribute to the Native community’s knowledge and understanding,” said Canadine, 18, a Global Studies major. “There’s so much potential out there for this kind of program, and I think Lehigh absolutely should take advantage of it.”

Anderson’s project aims to enhance the digital footprint of the OIA programs, including the study abroad office and the Iaccoca Institute’s Global Village. He advocates for greater investment in digital marketing, particularly video production, to boost visibility and engagement.

“I want to show that evolving digital marketing and promotional strategies is something that’s really crucial in today’s digital age, where students might have a lot shorter attention spans than in the past,” said Anderson, 23, a Political Science major with minors in Africana Studies and Philosophy.

Anderson’s international journey

Initially considering a legal career when he first came to Lehigh, Anderson’s focus began to shift after engaging with international programs at the university. He developed a passion for videography and digital marketing in a global context, especially in roles that help people from diverse backgrounds.

Anderson studied abroad last year through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)’s Open Campus program, where students select up to three locations from various cities around the world for an 18-week semester.
He studied for six weeks in Kyoto and 12 weeks in Rome, visiting 15 countries in total, including the Czech Republic, England, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Malta, and the Netherlands.

“I didn’t even have a passport before that,” Anderson said. “Now I’ve been able to visit 15 different countries. It was really an experience like no other.”

Anderson also participated in the Global Village program in the summer of 2023. The intensive, immersive program teaches Lehigh students and young professionals of all ages entrepreneurship and leadership skills while preparing them to thrive in a global community. He was part of a cohort of 56 people from 42 different countries.

“That was really unique because it was quite literally bringing the world to one space,” he said. “We had to live together for five weeks, and it really helped me learn about the world. For me to have had another experience like that, I would’ve had to go to 42 different countries.”

Anderson compiled 15 hours of footage from his Global Village experience, and has been creating trailers for a video series promoting the Global Village and other OIA programs

Support for indigenous opportunities

Canadine was born in a small Alaskan native community. Adopted at a young age, she lived for years in Guatemala, where her mother taught at an international school. She has maintained contact with her biological family, and her international perspective and indigenous roots have deeply influenced her interests and academic pursuits.

Alongside her Global Studies major, Canadine is minoring in International Relations, Indigenous Peoples Health, and Religion Studies. She works as a research undergraduate assistant at Lehigh’s Institute for Indigenous Studies (IIS), which she believes could play a key role in facilitating the partnerships she proposes in her capstone project.

Canadine has advocated for increasing awareness and visibility for indigenous programs and resources for Lehigh students. She has suggested developing further study abroad programs specifically focused on Indigenous Studies, stressing the importance of international indigenous cultural exchange and understanding.

She also believes the Lehigh University/United Nations (LU/UN) Partnership could sponsor more Native students to attend the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, fostering connections between Native communities and providing invaluable experiences for Native students.

“All these proposals align with Lehigh’s commitment to being a global and inclusive community,” she said. “I know these are ambitious ideas, but I’m a big believer in going as big as you can, because wherever you fall, at least you jumped as high as you could, and maybe something great can come out of that.”

Teresa Cusumano, Language Specialist with the International Center for Academic and Professional English (ICAPE), was Canadine’s fellowship mentor this summer. She said her passion for these issues was evident in her studies, and it was inspiring to collaborate with her.

“Her unique experiences as a Native Alaskan who has lived abroad are truly amazing and clearly influenced her OIA Fellow research and project, which reflect her dedication to advocating for education and intercultural experiences for indigenous students around the world,” Cusumano said.