Laurie Lemmlie-Leung ’78: Panama
Hometown: I was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada; Sacramento, California; and Columbus, Nebraska.
Current location: Volcan, Panama. Lived in the Philippines for 10 years and Hong Kong for over 30.
Photo Courtesy of Laurie Lemmlie-Leung.
Career: I joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to the island of Masbate in the Philippines. After the Peace Corps I was hired by Judith Gintzler Kocher ’72 to work in the U.S. Refugee Program. For seven years I worked in the office in Manila and the refugee camp. As the program wound down my husband (whom I met on a trip to Hong Kong during my Peace Corps years) and I decided to move to Hong Kong.
I was also hired by a Cornellian at my first job in Hong Kong, preparing tax returns for U.S. expats. After three years I left to join my husband in his family business, and we spent the next 30 years building our company. In 2008 we opened a small factory in China, producing textile products for U.S. and European name brands. Our factory was certified for organic cotton production, so making sure we met all the requirements was a big part of my work. In 2019 as Hong Kong became mired in protests, our factory became a casualty of the trade war. As we closed it down we pondered our next step and decided to move to Panama.
Cornell impact: My history advisor, Professor Jeffrey Brooks, encouraged me to travel abroad. After much consideration, I chose Ghana and loved it.
Benefits of living in a different culture: I enjoy learning about different beliefs, attitudes, and ways of doing and being. Not necessarily better or worse, just different.
What would you tell students: The modern world is so interconnected, but social media often puts us in an echo chamber reinforcing ideas we already agree with. People need to get out of their bubble, and travel is a great way to do that. Embrace the opportunity to encounter diverse cultures, connect with new faces, and temporarily set aside judgment. Keep an open mind, embrace humor, and be ready to laugh at yourself—it’s essential for survival.
➤ Meet seven more international alumni
