FROM THE NEST | SPRING 2026 | 5 corporated his international experience into his biotechnology course, using examples from his internship to illustrate validation methodologies, sterile manufacturing considerations, regulatory requirements and other topics directly relevant to students pursuing pharmaceutical careers. “It’s really exciting to bring new industry information into the classroom,” he said. “Going from a student, to a Ph.D. teaching assistant, to a faculty member was a journey. It’s really rewarding to hear positive feedback from my students and watch them achieve their goals.” Much like the professor who once encouraged him, Pavlov champions IIIP as a transformative experience. Beyond sharing his own story, Pavlov actively coaches students through interviews and professional interactions, helping them prepare for both the application process and the realities of working abroad. When reflecting on the impact of the internship, Pavlov emphasized the resilience it builds. “It teaches students to work through challenges differently,” he said. “They’re in a completely different country that might be a little foreign to them at first, but they learn to adapt and apply their Lehigh education in ways that really matter.” “Lehigh and the Iacocca Internship fundamentally shaped my career trajectory,” Pavlov added. “Working on pharmaceutical-grade membrane validation at 3M gave me hands-on experience that became the foundation for my Ph.D. research and current industry work. Now, as faculty, I have the privilege of encouraging my students to pursue these same transformative opportunities. The program doesn't just teach technical skills—it builds the cultural intelligence and adaptability that define successful global professionals.” Outside the classroom, Pavlov enjoys skiing, traveling and baking. He’s even brought his love of sourdough into teaching, crafting a quiz question around the fermentation process of a starter. “Everyone's path is different,” he said. “Doing an internship is hard, and doing one internationally is even harder because of the different culture, bank accounts, accommodations, language and living in a new country. But it’s a new beginning. And once you accomplish that, everything else seems easier in comparison.” Gorgi Pavlov ’14 Ph.D.’18, who served as the graduate student speaker at Lehigh’s 2018 Commencement ceremony, spoke of the “immense honor” of addressing the graduates. Lehigh recently announced a new name for one of its leading institutes for global engagement: the Lee Iacocca Institute for Global Leadership. The updated name reflects the Institute’s evolving mission to prepare emerging leaders from around the world to address complex, multisystem, global challenges. Previously known as the Iacocca Institute, the new name marks the Institute’s evolution of scope to include the convergence of systems leadership frameworks, work-to-learn experiences and the development of a global mindset via experiential programming, applied research, living cases and service learning projects. Founded in 1988 and named for Lee Iacocca ’45, the visionary business leader, philanthropist and namesake of the Institute, the organization has long served as a hub for global learning and leadership development. Through this transition, the Institute is positioning itself as a convener of global leadership learning—bringing together students, alumni, professionals and partners to explore new ideas, share best practices and collaborate on solutions to complex global challenges. “The new name honors both our heritage and our future,” said Cheryl Matherly, vice president and vice provost for international affairs. “It signals Lehigh’s renewed commitment to developing globally minded leaders who can think systemically, act ethically and collaborate across cultures to solve real-world problems.” —Colin McEvoy GLOBAL Iacocca Institute Name Updated “THE PROGRAM DOESN’T JUST TEACH TECHNICAL SKILLS—IT BUILDS THE CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AND ADAPTABILITY THAT DEFINE SUCCESSFUL GLOBAL PROFESSIONALS.” —Gorgi Pavlov ’14 Ph.D.’18 CHRISTA NEU
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