Faculty Global Connections

The Office of International Affairs sponsors Faculty Internationalization Grants to support Lehigh faculty members seeking to develop or enhance international teaching and research collaborations.

If you have questions about the grant or the application process, please contact Stacy Burger, Director of Global Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives.

OISS is accepting donations for the annual Winter Closet, held the first week of November. The closet serves to equip our international students and scholars with the warm clothing they need to survive a Lehigh Valley winter. Please consider donating your gently used winter clothing to our international community. Examples of what we are seeking (in any size!) are below. Donations may be brought to OISS in Coxe Hall, Suite 104 before November 1.

Long sleeve shirts, sweaters, hoodies/crewnecks, coats, jackets, long pants, snow gear, gloves/mittens, hats, scarves, socks, close-toed shoes, raincoats.

On Tuesday, October 22, the Office of Fellowship Advising is hosting the Director of the Truman Scholarship on campus for an information session at 4:30 pm in RBC 241. Please encourage your amazing students to attend!

Truman candidates must be:

• American citizens
• Juniors - graduating between December 2025- August 2026
• GPA - 3.5 or above
• Laser focused on a career in public service, seeking to work in organizations within .org  .gov. .mil etc.
• Criteria: Leadership Potential, Commitment to Public Service, Academic Excellence

The U.S. Department of State’s IDEAS Program is pleased to announce the launch of its 2025 IDEAS grant competition, which assists U.S. colleges and universities in creating and/or expanding their study abroad programming in support of U.S. foreign policy goals. The IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning. U.S. colleges and universities are invited to submit applications for projects to create and/or expand outbound study abroad programs and/or resources that align with U.S. foreign policy goals. The 2025 grant competition will award approximately 35 grants of up to $35,000 each to accredited colleges and universities.

Albanian academics living outside of Albania are invited to submit their credentials to the Research Expertise from the Academic Diaspora (READ) Fellowship Program before the deadline. READ supports the visits of Albanian Diaspora scholars to engage in collaborative research, co-teaching and other capacity-building activities at universities in Albania. Diaspora Scholars submit their research interests and CVs to the READ program for possible matches to interested hosts in Albania. READ fellowships are available in all fields of study and may last from 1 to 6 months. For more information or questions, please contact READ@iie.org.

The goal of the Acting on Climate Change Together (ACCT) Activity is to reduce the adverse impacts of climate-related disasters on education for children, including children with disabilities (CwD). The activity will meaningfully engage communities, children, schools, disabled person organizations and provide opportunities to collaboratively develop and implement disability-inclusive climate programs and approaches.

The Cisco Foundation was established in 1997 by Cisco. Cisco and the Cisco Foundation partner with non-profits, NGOs, and community-based organizations to carry out many of its Corporate Social Responsibility programs. Cisco invests in scalable and self-sustaining programs that use technology to meet some of society’s biggest challenges. They identify, incubate, and develop innovative solutions with the most impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofits and NGOs that address a significant social problem. Cisco is looking for programs that fit within their investment areas, serve the underserved, and leverage technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services. Cisco’s cash and product grant programs help nonprofits apply digital technology to have the broadest impact in some of the most economically underserved parts of the world. 

Join the Presidents’ Alliance on Thursday, October 24th, at 2:00 pm ET for the Immigration-Origin Students in Higher Education: Powering the Future Workforce and Helping to Drive Excellence and Innovation webinar to learn about the new trends, and hear from data and policy experts and campus leaders on what this means for the future of U.S. higher education and the country. Jeanne Batalova, senior analyst at MPI and the report’s authors will discuss the trends, and CHE Senior Writer Karin Fischer will moderate a conversation with campus leaders and immigration experts, including President Angel Reyna, Madera Community College and Prof. Zeke Hernandez, author of The Truth about Immigration. Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers. Read the full report here.

This workshop will facilitate conversation about study abroad in Africa for anyone committed to encouraging students to experience the continent as a hub for a deeper understanding of global issues. We will discuss existing opportunities for study abroad in Africa and the real and perceived challenges pertaining to student interest, academic support, and health and safety. Significant time will be allotted to reflection and discussion so that participants can share ideas and best practices for advising students and highlighting the region's academic excellence, rich cultural diversity, and transformative experiences.

Join the Council on Foreign Relations for an in-depth, nonpartisan conversation on America’s role in the world and the foreign policy issues at stake in the 2024 election, including trade and immigration, Russia and Ukraine, U.S.-China relations, and the Middle East. Panelists with distinguished careers in government, business, and academia will discuss the tradeoffs presented by different policy options both locally and globally and provide context on the international issues, choices, and challenges facing the next president.