Jonathan Lahdo
Arts and Culture
Students admitted into the Huntsman Program choose a target language to build fluency and increase their familiarity with the regions in which the language is spoken. Jonathan studied Arabic, a language he initially learned at home and later during high school in the United Arab Emirates. However, Jonathan’s fascination for language did not stop there; he also studied French and Persian at Penn.
Jonathan’s classes encouraged him to approach language holistically. In Professor Melanie Peron’s memorable class, French 226: French History and Culture, Jonathan studied French history while practicing French with his professor and peers. Moreover, Jonathan’s Arabic classes helped him master formal written Arabic, which differs from spoken Arabic, by analyzing Arabic literature and media.
Global Engagement
Jonathan studied abroad in Lebanon at the American University of Beirut. With the help of the Huntsman Program, Jonathan personalized his experience abroad. Jonathan, who is half Lebanese, was able to explore his identity and heritage by taking classes for native Arabic speakers while other international students pursue English language instruction at the American University of Beirut. The ability to speak Arabic regularly and to hold academic discussions in Arabic was unparalleled.
Jonathan’s global interests also extended to his extracurricular activities on campus. As the Co-Vice President of Professional Committee for the Wharton Asia Exchange, Jonathan and his peers bridged the gap between the Penn community and Asia. The club hosted a week-long series of events called Asia Spotlight Week in addition to professional events and social activities throughout the year.
Political and Social Advocacy
Jonathan’s profound commitment to advocacy and service was reflected in his work for PURE: Penn Undergraduates for Refugee Empowerment. PURE supports many initiatives on and off-campus, including tutoring Philadelphia-area refugees, implementing human rights awareness campaigns, and working alongside Penn Law’s human rights and immigration clinic, the Transnational Legal Clinic. Through his work with PURE, Jonathan acted as a translator and interpreter for the law school, helping with many pro bono cases. Jonathan’s work was varied and meaningful. His experiences included translating affidavits and interpreting for imprisoned refugees.
Moreover, Jonathan collaborated with Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture to promote the richness of Arab culture and language. To celebrate Arab culture in the greater Philadelphia area, Jonathan worked with Al-Bustan and PURE on a music festival for Syrian refugees. The event featured Syrian musicians and meaningful discussions on the concerns and challenges that Syrian refugees face in the United States.
Innovation
The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business combines a high-level study of business and language, which was the perfect fit for Jonathan. With an international background, including Syrian and Lebanese heritage as well as Australian citizenship and high school in the UAE, Jonathan embraced the Program’s global mindset. Moreover, Jonathan had a long-standing interest in language and business. In high school, Jonathan served on the business side of the Formula One in Schools project. Ultimately, his team’s race car went to the World Finals, where they worked with a high school from Ireland to win the best international collaboration award.
Jonathan majored in international studies in the College and simultaneously pursuing a concentration in management through the Wharton School. Jonathan’s interest in management was encouraged by Wharton’s Andrew Carton and Samir Numohamed, both Assistant Professors of Management, who strive to mentor their students personally while teaching classes that stand out for their depth of knowledge and attention to quantitative and qualitative aspects of management.