“Why I Remain Close to Lehigh” is a collection of feature stories about Lehigh University alumni volunteers and their motivation to stay involved with their alma mater.
Young Alumni Council member Juan Palacio Moreno ’16 ’17G smiles with his mother, Adriana Mertens ’16P, at graduation when he earned his Master of Arts degree in political science.
When Young Alumni Council member Juan Palacio Moreno ’16 ’17G moved to Allentown from his native Bello, Colombia, in 2000, it was not until attending Lehigh University that he truly became a global citizen.
“Lehigh proved to be a formative experience with life-changing impacts despite my reservations going into my first year,” said Palacio Moreno, who shared that he originally chose Lehigh to be close to his family.
“At first, I wasn’t super enthusiastic about my decision (to attend Lehigh), but during my first month, I realized I had made the right decision, and my confidence grew over the next four years,” he said.
Palacio Moreno was initially very interested in Lehigh’s Global Citizenship program, so much so that he reached out to the director of the program while he was a senior in high school.
Unfortunately, the program was put on hiatus during Palacio Moreno’s first year due to restructuring. By his sophomore year, the program was back in operation. Palacio Moreno applied and was accepted into a cohort where he travelled to Cambodia and acquired the international experiences that he desired.
“I ended up meeting amazing people from all different backgrounds, both academic and cultural, and we ended up having an immersive experience in Cambodia,” he said.
Palacio Moreno majored in political science because of his passion for global politics. He later earned his master’s degree in political science from Lehigh. However, he always knew that his end goal was to go to law school.
“I was always interested in politics and law, so I chose political science, which was a continuation of my passion, with my ultimate goal of attending law school,” Palacio Moreno said.
In recognition for his achievements in his studies, Palacio Moreno received the Robert W. Blake Memorial Award, which is given to a freshman who has completed one year of studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and is recommended by the college faculty as most outstanding in high scholastic achievement and in promise of leadership. Palacio Moreno said that the prize came as a surprise as it was unexpected.
Reflecting on his educational experience, he said he had amazing professors and still stays in touch with his favorite professor, Dr. Richard K. Matthews, department of political science.
“I think I have taken all of his courses as an undergrad. He has a very unique way of teaching. Instead of lecturing, he has discussions and calls upon students who aren’t paying attention. It forces students to really engage with the materials and motivates you to read before class,” he said.
Palacio Moreno noted that he was greatly impacted by his experiences as a member of Kappa Alpha (KA) fraternity.
“I think my experience in KA was also one of my most formative in college. I made really incredible friends,” Palacio Moreno said.
Palacio Moreno keeps the link alive between members of his fraternity wherever he goes and made a connection while working for the City of San Francisco as an analyst.
“I still see things play out from my experience at KA. For example, when I was out in San Francisco, I didn’t have any friends or family in the Bay Area, but our fraternity chef, Joanne, put me in contact with an alumnus from KA. He ended up being one of my closest friends and mentors in San Francisco,” Palacio Moreno said.
Palacio Moreno returned to Allentown this year to prepare for the LSAT exam and stays involved with Lehigh as a member of the Young Alumni Council (YAC), a group dedicated to connecting recent Lehigh graduates to the university. YAC, along with Lehigh University Development and Alumni Relations, sponsors programs and events that promote interaction with other alumni and current students.
These days, he can mostly be found on campus studying at the Fairfield Martindale Library, as he did when he was earning his two Lehigh degrees.
Get involved with the Young Alumni Council!
Recruitment for YAC occurs every spring, but we’re always looking for passionate and dedicated alumni to fill roles as they become vacant.
Young alumni (0-10 years out from graduation) can join by:
- Contacting Lindsey Kerr, associate director of Young Alumni Engagement, at lkk316@lehigh.edu.
- Nominating yourself or another young alumnus by filling out the nomination form here.