As part of Soaring Together, the campus-wide celebration of 50 years of undergraduate coeducation, the Office of International Affairs is recognizing Lehigh alumnae who have made an impact on campus and around the world.
Whether they graduated three years ago or three decades ago, each of these women is engaging with the world and making a difference in it.
Campus Connections
In addition to sharing their stories here, these inspiring alumnae are returning to campus (virtually or in person) to connect with students, faculty and staff, so that our current community can learn from them.
Learn more about the university's celebration of Soaring Together.
Women with Global Impact
Kira Mendez ’83: Helping Lehigh Develop the Next Generation of Global Leaders
One of the first women to study engineering at Lehigh, Kira Mendez ’83 is now back at the university as the director of the Iacocca Institute, which creates transformative, hands-on leadership experiences that challenge and empower the next generation of global leaders.
Patricia Chaves ’92G: Working Toward Sustainable Development
The Lehigh alum is a Senior Sustainable Development Officer at the UN and helps connect students to international opportunities.
Campus Connection
In fall 2021, Chaves joined the GO Getters podcast to discuss how she thinks a single person can make a difference and what Lehigh can do to help sustain our world.
Cristina Arteta ’98: Striving to Build Inclusive Spaces
Arteta led the creation of the Global Union, which two decades later still provides a place for students to come together.
Campus Connection
Arteta recently spoke by Zoom with the students who currently lead the Global Union. In the fall, she will meet with first-year students in Lehigh Launch Ecuador when they are in her home city of Quito.
Karen O’Donnell VanderGoot ’99: Shaping International Development Policy and Lehigh’s International Engagement
VanderGoot, a division chief at USAID, served on Lehigh's Board of Trustees during the university's first effort to expand its international reach.
Campus Connection
In spring 2022, VanderGoot met virtually with students in the Global Citizenship Program as a guest lecturer.
Morgan Volkart ’06, ’10G: Traveling the World to Help Students Come to Lehigh
Morgan Volkart ’06, ’10G fell in love with international education at Lehigh. Now she’s the associate vice provost for Western region and international recruitment.
Campus Connection
In April 2022, Volkart came back to campus to join a student-led discussion about education abroad opportunities for student-athletes.
Carrie Rich ’07: Helping Young Entrepreneurs Succeed, and Ultimately Achieve Global Good
As the CEO and co-founder of the Global Good Fund, Carrie Rich ’07 connects established business executives with emerging social entrepreneurs to mentor them, help scale their companies and ultimately address complex social issues.
Savannah Boylan ’15: Promoting Democracy Abroad … and Closer to Home
After 10 years working in foreign policy, Savannah Boylan ’15 founded For Democracy, a non-governmental organization to strengthen democratic institutions.
Campus connections
Boylan Zoomed in to an international relations class and meet virtually with current UN Youth Representatives to talk about her experiences with the UN Partnership and her career path since.
Victoria Herrmann ’12: Seeking Climate Change Solutions
As the president and managing director of the Arctic Institute in Washington, D.C., Victoria Herrmann ’12 is making an impact on climate change issues on the national and international stage.
Raven Gaddy ’15: Dedicated to a Life of Service
Raven Gaddy’s academic, professional and volunteer endeavors have taken her to six countries on four continents. Now a returned Peace Corps Volunteer working for the U.S. government, she is always looking for ways to make a positive impact and help people, including back at Lehigh.
Klaudia Jaźwińska ’18: A Curious Mind Pursuing Big Questions
Klaudia Jaźwińska ’18 describes herself as “a first-generation university graduate whose academic exploration of culture, technology and justice has spanned five continents.” Her work lies at the intersection of technology, media and ethics.
Campus Connections
Jaźwińska, a former Marshall Scholar, gave a presentation to students interested in applying for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships, and then visited with the student journalists at The Brown and White.