Written by Colin McEvoy | December 3, 2025 | SHARE
Lehigh’s Together We Climb reception celebrated the faculty and staff whose everyday support profoundly shapes the experiences of international students.
When Adeel Hashmi first arrived at Lehigh University, he was grappling with a heavy mix of academic pressure, profound homesickness, and the challenge of adapting to an unfamiliar culture. The strain became so overwhelming that he considered quitting his program and returning to his home country of Pakistan.
A first-year Ph.D. chemistry student, Hashmi soon found reassurance in the hours he spent in the laboratory with Cynthia Fianu Velgus, Assistant Lab Manager in the Department of Chemistry. Her encouragement, warmth, and steady presence created a sense of family he desperately needed, easing his stress and loneliness during an otherwise isolating transition.
“She didn't just have an impact; she was the reason I was able to stay in the U.S. and continue my studies,” Hashmi said. “It was her guidance and consistent positivity that helped me navigate the initial steep learning curve in my courses and overcome the emotional hurdles. Cynthia’s impact was transformative.”
Velgus was one of ten Lehigh faculty or staff members honored at the Together We Climb reception during International Education Week. Organized by Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), the event recognized members of the Lehigh community who have made a meaningful difference in the experiences of international students.
“You may not even know the type of impact that you have on students on a daily basis,” Stacy Burger, Director of Global Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives, said during the Nov. 18 reception. “This is just a fraction of what people do here on this campus for our students every day, and I am truly honored to work with each and every one of you.”
All the honorees were nominated directly by students, who shared how each person shaped their experience and made a difference in their lives. One honoree was nominated by six different students: JP Balmonte, Assistant Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences.
“JP is not just an advisor, but a mentor, and really takes the time to take care of us and our club needs on top of being a professor and doing research,” said Ali Noble ‘26, a member of Lehigh University Kapamilya, for which Balmonte serves as faculty advisor.
The reception also recognized recipients of other OIA programs, including the Faculty Internationalization Grants, which support faculty pursuing international research and teaching; the Doctoral Travel Grants for Global Opportunities, which help Ph.D. students present or conduct work abroad; and the Global Teaching and Learning Fellows program, an immersive experience in Mexico that helps faculty reimagine how they teach global learning.
The event also recognized Doctoral Travel Grants for Global Opportunities, which support Ph.D. students presenting or conducting work abroad, and the Global Teaching and Learning Fellows, an immersive program in Mexico that helps faculty reimagine how they teach global learning.
Nominations for Together We Climb were submitted to OIA and the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS). The complete list of recipients includes:
JP Balmonte, Assistant Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences
Stacy Burger, Director of Global Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives
Jenny Chao, Program Manager, Postdoctoral Affairs Office & Research Development
Bill Hunter, Director of Fellowship Advising & UN Programs
Kathleen Hutnik, Associate Deputy Provost for Graduate Education
Mackenzie McCann, Admissions Counselor, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Sarah Mixsell, Admissions Counselor, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Moriah Rush, Assistant Professor of Military Science
Cynthia Fianu Velgus, Assistant Lab Manager, Department of Chemistry
Joseph A. Vitriol, Assistant Professor, College of Business
Lehigh University had 967 international students from 87 countries in 2024–25, as well as 158 scholars from 41 countries, according to OIA’s Global Data Reports. Lehigh welcomed 615 international graduate students, a 2.1% increase over the previous year, while the university’s 352 international undergraduate students marked a 10.6% decrease compared to the prior year.