Learning by Doing, Leading by Example
Being challenged in the classroom while having the freedom to apply what I’ve learned beyond it has had a meaningful impact on my Lehigh experience.
College:
Intercollege Interdisciplinary Program
Academics:
Program:
Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program (IBE)
Major:
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Marketing
Minor:
Data Science
Hometown:
Mauritius, Africa
Activities:
Software Development Manager, Lehigh360, Work Study Research Assistant for professor Awkum Onwunta and professor Rebecca Wang, Startup co-founder Risk Measurement for Higher Education, Startup co-founder Bridge Deck Assessment Optimization, Research on Student Motivation with Lehigh360
Q: What is one thing you would want a prospective student to know about Lehigh?
A: Your Lehigh experience is truly what you make of it. I have friends who "took it easy" after getting to Lehigh and missed out on opportunities as a freshman or sophomore. Lehigh is a great place to explore passions and experiment with different plans for the future. However, this can only happen when you take advantage of everything around you.
Q: How has Lehigh prepared you to take on tomorrow’s challenges?
A: Being challenged in the classroom while having the freedom to apply what I’ve learned beyond it has had a meaningful impact on my Lehigh experience. It helps solidify classroom concepts by putting them into practice. I’ve found it much easier to take on projects in any field and confidently navigate through them. This hands-on approach is something that’s been a key part of both my coursework and the projects I’ve been involved in beyond the classroom.
Q: We often hear that Lehigh is special because our students are collaborative, not competitive, with each other. Have you seen this to be true? How so?
A: Yes, definitely. I think we all recognize that there are plenty of resources available to us, so we’re not competing against each other. Instead, our shared goal is to create the best work possible using our individual skills and knowledge. This mindset really encourages collaboration over competition. When working on projects or programs, my friends often step up to tackle the tougher parts if I have exams or a busy week. There’s a strong sense of support, everyone just wants the whole team to succeed.
Q: You co-founded Pixel Partners, can you tell us a little bit about what Pixel Partners is and how you’ve utilized Lehigh's entrepreneurship opportunities to help further your work?
A: While working on those startups, I was deeply connected to Lehigh’s entrepreneurship hub, the Baker Institute. They provided incredible support—mentorship, strong alumni connections, and even some funding through the Ventures Lab program. This allowed me to quickly and efficiently iterate on my ideas. Although I’m no longer pursuing that particular startup, I gained invaluable experience that I now apply to new ventures. One of the best parts is that Lehigh continues to support me in a similar way. The Baker Institute is genuinely invested in the success of student founders, not just the success of their startups. Even if your first or second idea doesn’t work out, they’re still there to help you with the next one.
Q: You are conducting research on campus, can you tell us about that and how you connected with the professor(s)?
A: Since my junior year, I’ve had the opportunity to take part in four research projects. My first was in the Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) department, where the OutReach ISE program connected me with a research group and professor. Over two semesters, we completed the project and published two papers in peer-reviewed academic journals. That experience built a strong foundation and gave me the confidence to pursue additional research opportunities.
My second project was through Lehigh360, where we conducted semi-structured interviews with 77 students to explore student motivation. This research, which began from my involvement in the Creative Inquiry Sustainable Development Fellowship as a freshman, is now being submitted for publication.
The third project focused on marketing analytics. After taking a class with a professor, I developed a Python web scraper for my final project. She was impressed and invited me to help update her research using current product data—my first hands-on experience applying coding skills to research.
Finally, I returned to the ISE department for my fourth project, once again through OutReach ISE. I had taken a class with the professor and heard him mention the opportunity, which led to my involvement. Each of these experiences has helped me grow as a researcher and apply what I’ve learned in meaningful, practical ways.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Lehigh?
A: Definitely the wide range of high-impact programs on campus. Since my freshman year, it’s been easy to find opportunities outside the classroom where I could immediately apply what I was learning. What I’ve appreciated most is how these programs are available at every stage of the undergraduate journey. Some opportunities matched my experience level as a freshman, and now, as a senior, I’m still finding programs that challenge and support me where I am today.
Q: Where is your study spot of choice on campus?
A: During my freshman and sophomore years, I spent a lot of time at the Computing Center near the E.W. Fairchild-Martindale Library (FML). It's open 24/7 and has a calm, quiet atmosphere, which made it perfect for focusing. Not many people know about it, so it was usually free. The best part is that I could go anytime I needed, whether early in the morning or late at night. It was especially helpful during exams when I preferred not to study in my room.