NYU Wordpress Theme

Student–Artists Thrive in Berlin

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Kristin Law

Take a peek at the work of students who took advantage of Berlin’s flourishing arts scene while studying away at NYU Berlin.

Each year, many students at NYU Berlin unleash their most creative selves. “Berlin has a really long history of serving as home to artists and artistic creation, stretching all the way back to the 17th century,” says Jennifer Porto, arts coordinator at NYU Berlin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the city blossomed as “an unparalleled canvas for artistic expression,” where artists could work without financial strain. And even though it’s not as inexpensive as it once was, “Berlin is still known as a place that fosters and fuels creativity,” Porto adds.

Every student at NYU Berlin has the chance to exhibit their talents while there—whether through an open studio, a performance, or a showing. “Many of our students also investigate other opportunities, and we’ve had students perform in clubs, appear on local radio stations, or even create their own events,” Porto explains “I think that’s the biggest standout opportunity: if you’re the kind of person who wants to give something a go, chances are pretty good that there’s a venue in Berlin that will let you showcase what you do.”

Dyllan Gabriel Larmond, Class of 2025

Journal Entries II (and the goddamn dog)

“I used this painting as a way to work through difficult identity- and family-related struggles whilst bringing my fullest self into the process,” Dyllan explains. “I am so proud of this painting and how much I have grown both as an individual and as an artist.”

According to Dyllan, Berlin itself was a big part of that. “Studying abroad gave me the distance and the space I needed to bring myself back into my work in a fun and exciting environment. I felt so supported by NYU Berlin faculty, and I was shocked at how at home I felt in Berlin. I realized that a lot of my artistic practice relies on getting out of my comfort zone and exploring.”

A painting by Dyllan featuring a hand holding a pair of scissors

Journal Entries II (and the goddamn dog)

Eli Kan, Class of 2025
Error 403: Partner Not Found
“The internet has become one of the most accessible ways for young queer people to find their community,” Eli explains, noting that representation of queer people in pop culture was virtually nonexistent until recently, except in the form of queer-coded villains. “But what makes something (or someone) monstrous? Is it simply a matter of unfamiliarity?”

Eli wanted to explore that question by inviting the viewer “to become an active participant in attempting to communicate with the unknown.” An iPad—placed among fabric, cow bones, fishing line, nuts, and LED lights—serves as this piece’s “window into the soul.”

Eli says NYU Berlin spurred new projects in unexpected ways: “I really enjoyed the experimental music and theatre scene there. It definitely inspired me to do more performance-based works.”

Error 403: Partner Not Found

Bingyi Zhang, Class of 2024

The Secret Language
“When creating this piece, I was doing research on Nüshu, the women’s script that was used in a small village in Hunan province, China, where women were denied a formal education,” Bingyi explains. “So, they developed a ‘secret language’ to express their feelings, to write poems and lyrics. I found it very beautiful and powerful.”

In her work, Bingyi focused on the patterns found on the surface of water, which change under different lighting and circumstances. Berlin was an integral part of shaping this piece: “I enjoyed going to Museum Island and taking a walk along the river. I took a lot of pictures of the water surface, which later became the inspiration and material for this work.”

A column featuring a collage of images by Zhang

The Secret Language

Evan Clausen, Class of 2025
Still from Eating Andrea

Still from Eating Andrea

Evan (right) performed, wrote, and directed this play, along with classmates Xander Candib (left) and Andrea Cañas. “We had intended a message about greedy corporations taking and taking and taking from the environment with little regard for the restoration or sustainability of the planet they take from,” he notes.

Then, the group decided to really lean into the absurd. “If we could confront the audience with the grotesque sight of eating meat and lettuce straight off someone’s body for a long period of time, they would be forced to reckon with the discomfort inherent in the situation…once in this state, what they take from the piece is up to them,” he says.

Evan was inspired by experimentation in German theatre. “German theatre is so dynamic and out there, and you get to experience theatrical situations that are so unusual, yet so thought-provoking,” he says.

Scene from Faith, Hope, and Charity

A man and woman in bedclothes stand near a kitchen table

Scene from Faith, Hope, and Charity

Evan (as a policeman, left) and Ava Monroe (as Elisabeth, right) perform in Faith, Hope, and Charity, written by Ödön von Horváth and directed by Rikki Henry, in February 2024 in Berlin. In the scene, Elisabeth discovers the policeman she’s falling for isn’t who she thought he was.

Written by Marti Trgovich

Crossroads of History and Culture: A Conversation with Inaugural NYU Tulsa Director Lindsey Claire Smith

Posted on October 28, 2024, modified on November 8, 2024 by Kristin Law

Meet Dr. Lindsey Claire Smith, the inaugural site director at NYU Tulsa. A professor of English at Oklahoma State University (OSU) with affiliated appointments in OSU’s American Indian Studies and American Studies programs, Lindsey brings a wealth of knowledge to NYU Tulsa. She was drawn to the global site in 2024 for the opportunity it presents students to learn about Oklahoma’s unique history and growing opportunities for research and professional development.

As a sixth-generation Oklahoman and Tulsa native who has spent her career researching and teaching in Native American studies, Smith is eager to introduce NYU students to the many ways that Oklahoma represents a crossroads of American history and culture.

Dr. Lindsey Claire Smith

You’re still new to your role, but could you share any highlights from your time as director of NYU Tulsa so far?

It’s been a pleasure to get to know my colleagues at NYU—and in the Office of Global Programs specifically—and interact with leadership at other global sites. I just took a trip to Los Angeles and saw the NYU Los Angeles team lead the student orientation to get a firsthand look at how that process goes. I’m so inspired by how people approach the idea of learning with curiosity and humility. I’m eager to keep that focus and those value-driven practices in mind as we put our program in place in Tulsa.

Last summer I got to meet our cohort of interns from NYU who were here in Tulsa. I love working with students, and a passion of mine in my work as a professor is scholar development and community engagement. Meeting this great group and hearing what they’re interested in for their learning and professional journeys was very helpful as NYU Tulsa moves forward. It was also so much fun!

What are some of the ways you’ve witnessed growth and development in Tulsa in recent years?

The most obvious change is in the infrastructure and development around downtown Tulsa. When I was a kid, we would go to late-night dance parties and small indie concerts at Cain’s Ballroom. There was hardly anyone around. Now, it’s so full of people. There’s so much going on you couldn’t possibly take advantage of all that’s available, which is a huge and exciting change.

People standing in an exhibit with photos and text on the wall. The wall largely reads, "Building Black Wall Street."

NYU students read about Black Wall Street at the Greenwood Rising history center.

There are so many new opportunities in Tulsa, and we’re lucky to be in this moment. At the same time, this is a key moment for learning. The challenge for us is to make sure that the development is in sync with community needs. I’m happy that people are finally noticing the profound contributions of Oklahomans to arts and cultural history—that is so important. But making sure that this growth benefits communities and that Tulsa remains affordable, accessible, and more equitable is just as important.

From STEM to performing arts (and everything in between), can students from all different academic backgrounds thrive at NYU Tulsa?

Yes! The courses and internships offered at NYU Tulsa speak to the diversity of opportunity here. Students who are curious about many areas are going to find this experience highly rewarding. There will be a lot of overlap and connection across courses that may be unexpected. For example, there are a lot of really important ways in which the clean energy transition connects with Native American studies here in Oklahoma. Additionally, there are some ways that a sociological approach to urban development needs to connect with the history of the Greenwood neighborhood and the histories of North Tulsa. So studying in Tulsa is going to be a “wraparound” experience.

Written by Olivia Richter

Research and Service at NYU Accra and NYU Sydney

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Kristin Law

Even though NYU Accra and NYU Sydney are nearly 10,000 miles apart, NYU students at both sites often find themselves having similar experiences as they create opportunities to contribute to their new communities, go beyond the typical learning experience, and immerse themselves in the local culture.

For recent graduates Jesiah Matthews, College of Arts and Science Class of 2023, and Ericka Kamanou-Tenta, College of Arts and Science Class of 2023, NYU Accra attracted their attention early in the process of deciding to study away. For Jesiah, who majored in Sociology, Ghana was an opportunity to “connect with my heritage.” Ericka, who majored in Global Public Health and Anthropology, was raised in Cameroon. “I was excited to step into my purpose,” she reflects. They both minored in Social Entrepreneurship.

Jesiah and Ericka standing in front of students seated at a table

Jesiah Matthews and Ericka Kamanou-Tenta teaching young adults in Ghana

Once in Accra, Jesiah and Ericka volunteered at the nonprofit B.A.S.I.C.S International and connected through their common passion for the city, service, and entrepreneurship. Together, they decided to empower local high school students in the Chorkor community, “to see themselves as change-makers,” the duo explains. As such, they worked with the young adults to identify regional problems, then built workable business models for each of them. “Being in Accra provided an invaluable immersive environment that allowed us to gain deeper insights into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem,” they share. “This on-the-ground experience not only enriched the project by offering a nuanced perspective but also facilitated a more empathic and culturally sensitive approach.”

In the end, Jesiah and Ericka partnered with various NYU staff to transition from interns to founders, starting a new venture: IVG (Identify, Validate, Grow) Ghana. They aim to empower young African adults through entrepreneurship, while also bridging financial independence, social development, business interests, and community needs. “The overall experience was transformative,” they say. “We’ve had the opportunity to have a sense of purpose through giving back to a small group of young adults. And we’ve gotten a taste of what happens when passion, purpose, and impact come together. It benefits everyone.”

Similarly, when Michaela Greenlee, a Global Public Health and Sociology major, studied away, she also took her strengths in service to provide a positive impact in Sydney, Australia. Having previously served as an NYU service ambassador, leading service events and promoting social justice, Michaela wanted to develop a service project that reflected Australia’s unique social justice issues–most notably, environmental sustainability.

A group of students wearing gloves pose for a photo outside

Michaela Greenlee and the NYU Sydney Clean Up Australia volunteers

“It can be very rewarding to do service abroad,” she says. “You learn about a different culture’s social justice issues and understand their means of combating them.”

Australia produces 2.5 million tons of plastic waste each year, so Michaela, who’s also minoring in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies, partnered with the nonprofit Clean Up Australia to host a daylong cleanup event for NYU students. The organization sent her all the necessary materials, and she marketed the event and recruited volunteers. “My goal was to raise awareness of Clean Up Australia and their impact on the environment, particularly their work with eliminating plastics,” she explains.

The event was a success, leading to clean streets in the local neighborhood and new skills for Michaela. “The overall experience of planning and executing this project in a different global location was eye-opening because I had the opportunity to collaborate with one of Australia’s most recognized, credible, and trusted nonprofit organizations,” she shares. Going forward, she plans to take the lessons she learned back to New York City, where she’ll seek out similar nonprofits. “I want to get other students excited about giving back to the global community by learning to become advocates and collaborating with like-minded organizations.”

Written by Dana Guterman, repurposed with permission from Global Notebook

NYU Shanghai Student Hones Research Skills as an Amgen Scholar

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Kristin Law

NYU Shanghai junior Yolanda Huang spent eight weeks in the Amgen Scholars Program this summer, a prestigious undergraduate research program at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

Tsinghua University in Beijing, China

Amgen Scholars join a faculty member’s lab to contribute to a biomedical research project as well as participate in a series of academic activities, including weekly lab meetings, group discussions, presentation training, and campus-wide seminars. A faculty member guides them through the program, while a technician or graduate student offers an additional perspective.

Yolanda’s research focused on red-light activated photocatalysis for protein proximity labeling. In other words, her project aimed to develop and test a method to label proteins within their natural surroundings with the help of photocatalysts that set off a chemical reaction. “Participating in the program meant that I could dive into pharmaceutical studies, which relies heavily on biochemistry,” Yolanda says. “I’ve found biochemistry harder than other fields of natural sciences, so being admitted to the program was a challenge but also an opportunity to improve myself in my weakest area.” In addition to enhancing her research skills, the program has helped Yolanda improve her scientific communication abilities. She plans to pursue a doctorate after graduation, continuing in academia as a researcher and scholar. These crucial skills will help her excel in addition to connections made with a new network of scientists-in-training.

“Even though NYU Shanghai also has students from different parts of Asia, we all attend an American school and people are more or less influenced by American culture,” Yolanda explains. “The diverse educational and cultural experiences of other Amgen Scholars are fascinating. After the program concludes, I hope to continue to contact them and meet with them again in the future.”

Huang performing oboe at the end-of-semester show in Fall 2022.

While the cultural immersion and practical experience at Tsinghua University have helped Yolanda grow as a researcher and student, she’s excited to return to NYU this fall. She’s also looking forward to once again experiencing the state-of-the-art lab equipment, world-class faculty, and uplifting atmosphere at NYU. “For students who enjoy scientific research, NYU can provide them with unmatched opportunities, guidance, and support,” Yolanda says. “And now, I feel even more prepared to conduct research at NYU Shanghai due to my improved research skills from the Amgen Scholars Program.”

Repurposed from NYU Shanghai News

A New Policy Promotes Public Health and Faith Leaders to Jointly Prepare for Future Health Crises

Posted on April 29, 2024, modified on April 30, 2024 by Kristin Law

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy poses significant challenges to public health efforts worldwide, continuing to put people at risk of contracting preventable diseases like polio, HPV, measles, and influenza. At this critical juncture, based on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Public Health Association (APHA) has endorsed a new policy. Acknowledging the vital role faith leaders play in influencing their communities, this policy, developed and coauthored by eight experts including Dr. Inon Schenker, an NYU Tel Aviv lecturer, calls for wider engagement of public health leaders with faith-based organizations to improve public health and vaccine equity. The authors studied instances of collaboration between public health and religious leaders and found positive results, particularly in underserved, marginalized, and hard-to-reach populations.

Dr. Schenker, a public health specialist with over 20 years of experience in research and practice in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, explains, “The policy reflects a fresh perspective on connecting faith and public health. Faith leadership—priests, rabbis, imams—are highly respected in their respective communities. The trust and influencing power over large cadres of people they wield can make a difference in pandemic preparedness and response.” Dr. Schenker’s diverse background in public health, with experience working with the World Health Organization, civil society organizations, and the private sector, underscores the importance of combining practical experience with academic insights—a philosophy deeply embedded in the NYU ethos. This is also the third time he is leading APHA teams to develop endorsed global health policies.

Two women and four men seated, in discussion. Signage in the background includes various religious symbols.

Jewish, Muslim, and Christian participants in a panel on interfaith collaboration with public health experts held in Karlsruhe, Germany, underscore the important roles religious leaders have in promoting vaccination and supporting community health.
Photo Credit: Julia M/JIVI

Turning Recommendations into Results

Dr. Schenker emphasizes the importance of spreading awareness about the new policy and translating its recommendations into action items. He urges prompt implementation to address pressing health challenges, better prepare for future pandemics, and improve overall health equity. Some of the policy’s recommendations include engaging in ongoing dialogue with religious organizations to develop strategies for the local and global levels; identifying areas where public health and religious leaders can collaborate to protect life and prevent disease; investing in faith-based vaccination initiatives and culturally appropriate messaging; launching religious organization–led programs to reach those who are vaccine hesitant; and training faith leaders to work with public health leaders and vice versa.

Drawing on real-life examples, Dr. Schenker shares past success stories, like a recent initiative in Jerusalem where religious leaders came together to endorse collaboration between faith communities and public health agencies. He also participates in ongoing research efforts in Israel, such as using mosques as hubs for community centers for older adults and for health-promotion interventions.

Inspiring Better Outcomes

Overall, the new policy underscores the potential for pragmatic collaboration between faith-based organizations and public health authorities to tackle vaccine hesitancy, bolster emergency preparedness, and respond to urban health issues. Through mutual respect and a shared vision, these partnerships have the power to drive meaningful change and promote better health outcomes for all.

Sixteen men wearing masks and religious garb standing together

The President of Israel convened a meeting of faith leaders in Jerusalem to cosign a declaration calling for faith communities worldwide to collaborate with the medical profession on public health issues. Pictured above: The Latin Patriarch, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa; The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III; The Anglican Archbishop, Dr. Hossam Na’um; The President of the Muslim Shari’a Court of Appeals, Sheikh Abed Elhakim Samara; The Druze Community Leader, Sheikh Mouwafaq Tarrif; The Secretary General of the Baha’i Movement in Israel, Dr. David Rutstein; The Rishon LeZion, Chief (Sephardi) Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef; The Chief (Ashkenazi) Rabbi of Israel, President of the Supreme Rabbinical Court, Rabbi David Lau
Photo Credit: Koby Gideon/GPO

Written by Kelsey Rexroat

NYU Prague: Day in the Life

Posted on April 8, 2024 by Kristin Law

Follow Music Business major Antonio, a junior at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, as he shares a typical day studying at NYU Prague, including insight into his internship at the Bohuslav Martinů Institute, where he helps preserve the Czech composer’s body of work.

Meeting Point

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Kristin Law

Connecting NYU and the public through the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute

In 2008—two years before NYU Abu Dhabi welcomed its inaugural class—NYU established a presence in the city to begin building awareness about the type of events and dialogues the local community could expect the institution to host. The NYU Abu Dhabi Institute was a chance to create a relationship with the public, offering a space to address global challenges and contribute to a growing ecosystem of cultural institutions in the area.

Today, the institute is a center of advanced research as well as scholarly and creative activity. Its public programs and academic conferences bring together academics, professionals, and leaders from around the world to discuss research areas and topics of local and global significance. With some 45 public discussions and more than 25 academic conferences over the course of the year, the institute offers NYU a unique chance to give back to the intellectual culture of Abu Dhabi.

“We feature a range of topics that reflect the diversity of this global university, and we offer a space to talk about these complex problems from a variety of different perspectives,” says Senior Director of the Institute Maurice Pomerantz. “It’s a chance for our colleagues in Abu Dhabi to connect with colleagues from around the world and also speak not only to the standard academic audience but to professionals and policymakers from the larger community. A key part of our mission is to show the world the relevance of the modern university.”

Programs typically center on a theme connected to the global challenges of the moment; many of last year’s lectures focused on the environment, and upcoming ones will address artificial intelligence. Presenters often have multidisciplinary backgrounds, with knowledge that bridges fields, as well as experience in both academia and the broader world. Some discussions are in English and some are in Arabic, and the audience often includes NYU students and faculty, professionals, local school members, and families with children. The institute also hosts a series of lectures and events at NYU’s Washington Square campus. Last year alone, the institute led more than 30 events there.

Lectures encompass a variety of subjects and perspectives—one week a Booker Prize winner and an expert on Afghan music traditions may present, then the next week may feature a filmmaker who focuses on refugees’ stories. The institute archives past discussions on its YouTube channel, so anyone in the world can join the conversation. There are also numerous opportunities for students to participate, such as recommending faculty, helping with question and answer sessions at events, and much more.

In addition, the institute hosts peer reviewed academic conferences that can be proposed by faculty anywhere across NYU’s global network. The conferences advance NYU’s culture of research and offer a venue to many annual meetings of scholarly and academic societies from around the world. Regional and international conferences across most academic fields turn to the institute for specialized academic forums that discuss cultural, historical, artistic, and scientific themes.

“The institute is a rare opportunity to directly combine a public mission and a research mission,” Pomerantz says. “It’s a luxury to have a series of live talks and conferences today, especially ones that are relevant locally and meaningful on a global scale. I think this has really become something of a treasure here in Abu Dhabi.”

Written by Sarah Bender

Around the World in 97 Years: A Brief History of NYU’s Global Network

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Kristin Law

Long before study abroad was a rite of passage for curious students, NYU recognized the many merits of an international education. While the University founded its first study away site in 1958, Professor James E. Lough took 350 NYU students on a for-credit sailing trip around the world back in 1926, an experience he dubbed the “Floating University.” Tamson Pietsch, associate professor in social and political sciences and director of the Australian Centre for Public History at the University of Technology Sydney, detailed this little known journey in her recent book, The Floating University: Experience, Empire, and the Politics of Knowledge.

“NYU actually ran the very first study abroad program for academic credit in the United States and the world,” Pietsch asserted in a recent discussion facilitated by NYU’s Dr. Jini Kim Watson, professor of English and comparative literature and faculty liaison at NYU Sydney. During their conversation, Pietsch shared her work with Dana Burde, associate professor of international education at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and Shirin Nadira, assistant director of the NYU Office of Global Awards.

NYU Madrid

Pietsch’s book details the fascinating history of this educational experiment as well as its implications for higher education. “A contest emerged in the 1920s between expertise and experience as the foundation of knowledge claims about the world,” she explains. For eight months, 350 students and another 150 crew members traversed the globe on a ship, taking a variety of courses and disembarking at nearly 50 ports. Much like NYU’s global network today, the advertising materials lauded the voyage as an opportunity for students to “develop the ability to think in world terms through firsthand contact with places, people, and problems.” Indeed, students met recognizable figures such as Gandhi and the Pope. “The basis of the voyage was that you can teach students to be global citizens at sea—you can teach worldly-mindedness,” says Pietsch. However, the press covered students’ antics as much as their learning, and it would be some years before NYU students once more studied abroad.

NYU Paris

More than three decades later, in 1958, NYU established the first academic center in its global network, NYU Madrid. There, students hone their Spanish language skills while immersing themselves in the Spanish capital’s vibrant culture. Then, in 1969, NYU Paris became the second site, founded as a center for immersive French language study. Today, students from a diversity of fields come together to visit world-renowned museums and key historical sites while getting the opportunity to supplement their coursework with classes at French universities. In the years that followed, the NYU community established a dozen additional global sites, including two degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

As our world fractures, reconnects, and evolves, NYU’s global network has continued to grow and change. “In a way, I think that not much has changed,” concludes Pietsch. “The form of encountering engagement with the world does that same work of helping students understand the place of their nation in the international order.”

Written by Dana Guterman

The New Now Summit: Informing and Inspiring NYU Los Angeles Students

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Kristin Law

Last semester NYU Los Angeles presented The New Now Summit, bringing actors, writers, educators, artists, executives, and creative technologists together to discuss the future of filmed content and how technological, societal, and market forces will affect it.

Alex Winter, Oscar Sharp, Lindsay Nuon, Gabriel Barcia-Colombo and Dan O’ Sullivan seated onstage in conversation.

Tisch alumni, filmmaker and actor Alex Winter moderates a panel entitled AI Created Entertainment, Inherent Bias and Opportunities for Change, featuring Tisch alum Oscar Sharp, cybersecurity expert, Lindsay Nuon, and Tisch faculty Gabriel Barcia-Colombo and Dan O’ Sullivan.

NYU Los Angeles sponsored the event with help from a Global Opportunity Grant awarded by the Office of Global Programs. With additional funding from the NYU Alliance for Public Interest Technology, the NYU site felt that they could produce and facilitate an event to meet the moment(s) of the evolving Hollywood landscape. From technological influences on storytelling and inclusive representation to the value and exploitation of intellectual property (IP), the NYU Los Angeles team knew what they wanted conversations to focus on. The summit addressed several driving questions: How can diverse voices be supported and amplified if prebranded or known IP is necessary to break through the media clutter? If tech is created with the inherent biases of humans, how can it be inclusive? And, with these things in mind, how can one ethically work with technology in creative industries?

The summit audience, seated, clapping and smiling.

Fall 2023 NYU Los Angeles students in the audience

Thought leaders from NYU’s campus in New York City, including Dr. Charlton McIlwain, vice provost and professor of media, culture, and communication at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; Gabriel Barcia-Colombo, associate arts professor in the Interactive Telecommunications Program at the Tisch School of the Arts; and Dan O’Sullivan, associate dean of the Tisch Institute of Emerging Media, were among panelists who informed and inspired audience members. In fact, much of the audience were students from the NYU Los Angeles fall 2023 cohort. For Zoë Bolden, a Film and Television major, the most impactful panelist was Kelly Mi Li. “It was interesting to hear how she took an idea she had in 2013 and turned it into the Bling Empire, which premiered in 2021,” Zoë says. “It was inspiring to see how she never gave up on her idea. My favorite piece of advice was when she said you should always stay true to a project that you have created.”

Though the industry is ever-changing and challenging, students left the event emboldened for the future. Luke Nguyen, an NYU Abu Dhabi student majoring in Film and New Media, says he learned that “Opportunities will always show up when I show up. Don’t be afraid to fail; we get better when we fail. Know that failure is taking us where we need to be.” Zoe Stevens, a Theatre major from Tisch, adds, “There will be a lot of ‘nos’ before ‘yes.’ I have to fight for the rooms I am supposed to be in. I can start that by surrounding myself with good people who lift me.”

Repurposed and edited with permission by NYU Los Angeles

NYU Celebrates International Education Week

Posted on November 27, 2023, modified on November 27, 2023 by Kristin Law

This month NYU joined universities around the United States as hosts of a plethora of events and celebrations during International Education Week (IEW), highlighting the many benefits international education presents students across the globe. “NYU is a leader in this field, so it’s essential that we communicate the importance of international education to both our students and the wider community,” says Jonathan Maynard, assistant director of study away student outreach at the Office of Global Programs (OGP). According to the 2023 Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report, NYU is ranked No. 3 in the nation for the number of US students sent to study around the globe. “These events highlight the work we’ve been doing for a long time,” he shares.

This year OGP kicked off the annual celebration with one of the marquee events, the Study Away Opportunities Fair. Taking place each fall, the fair provides students the opportunity to learn about each of NYU’s 14 additional study away sites. OGP, student global ambassadors, and academic advisers from across the University staff the fair, prepared to answer any student questions.

Jiayi Zhang, a global ambassador and Linguistics and Latin American and Caribbean Studies double major at the College of Arts and Science (CAS), studied away at NYU Buenos Aires. She was at the site’s booth during the fair, fielding questions from her fellow students.

“I get to talk all about my personal experience in Buenos Aires, which was amazing,” Jiayi says from behind a table donned with an Argentine flag, stickers, pictures, and information about the global site. “Just now, a student asked me about housing. I told her I lived in a homestay, and she didn’t know that was an option. Now she’s really interested in that.”

For students who haven’t studied away, the fair offers a comfortable but engaging environment for them to learn about the global sites while talking to others who have had the experience.

“Since I’m studying politics and public health, NYU Washington, DC, is my first choice,” says Andres Piccinoni, a junior at CAS. “Although I did preliminary research, I really wanted to talk to someone about what it’s like in Washington, DC, and how to get internships there.”

Andres says he also stopped by the NYU Madrid, NYU Florence, and NYU Shanghai booths to learn more about what they have to offer. “Studying away is a great opportunity to get in touch with other cultures,” he adds. “The fair gave me an inkling of what it’s like to connect with a culture I’m not very familiar with and how that could help me gain new perspectives.”

In addition to the fair, OGP hosts the Global Engagement Symposium, a nexus of undergraduate student presenters sharing their accomplishments from studying away. Students presented their global-focused research and experiences at the symposium, which ran simultaneously with the fair. Topics ranged from ancient Indian literature and global climate research to unique volunteer opportunities at NYU sites.

“When students go abroad, we want their experience to go beyond the classroom,” says Maynard. “We want them to find deeper experiences as they explore these cultures. Through research, internships, and volunteering, they meet new people and see a side of a city they normally wouldn’t get to see. The symposium is an amazing way for them to present these experiences. The work they’re doing is really impressive.”

Throughout IEW, the University hosted daily events focused on global learning. Students took part in trivia and comedy nights and engaged in lectures and workshops. The week also included a keynote address from Dr. Rajika Bhandari, an international higher education expert and a scholar–practitioner with over 25 years of experience in researching student mobility and delivering data-driven insights; monitoring, evaluating, and studying the impact of international education programs; and shaping thought leadership strategy in the nonprofit, private, and higher education sectors. Dr. Bhandari is also author of her award-winning memoir, America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility.

“International Education Week at NYU is unique because we’re not just talking about the students who come to the United States from overseas, we’re also talking about the experience our students have in other cultures when they study away,” says Chris Nicolussi, assistant vice president of global network student services and planning at OGP. “There are so many great presentations, talks, and student-led forums. It’s a uniquely NYU perspective on global education.”

Written by Kelly Stewart

Global Dimensions