NYU Wordpress Theme

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 Faculty Conduct Research in 107 Countries and Counting

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Katie L

At NYU, research thrives across 15 schools and campuses and dozens of centers and programs—in New York and around the world. In fact, University faculty conducted research in 107 countries, as well as in Greenland and Antarctica, during the 2023–2024 academic year alone. From sustainability to inequality and human health to artificial intelligence, research at NYU spans disciplines and crosses borders—and the University’s profile is rapidly rising. Today, NYU ranks 15th among all universities on the National Science Foundation’s annual Higher Education Research and Development survey, with the biggest year-over-year surge in rankings of any top 50 school (as measured by research expenditures).

“NYU’s ascent as a leading research university helps set the stage for President Mills’ visionary strategic pathways, which includes a focus on global science and technology that will enable NYU to continue to thrive and drive impact,” affirms Stacie Bloom, chief research officer, vice chancellor, and vice provost for global research and innovation. “By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, expanding global education opportunities, and investing in innovative research, President Mills has positioned NYU to be at the forefront of academic excellence and discovery. This holistic approach not only enhances NYU’s research capabilities but also cultivates a diverse and inclusive academic community that reflects the University’s values.”

Here are just a few of the projects positioning NYU to lead the world in global education and research.

J. Lawrence Aber, the Willner Family Professor of Psychology and Public Policy at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and Hirokazu Yoshikawa, the Courtney Sale Ross Professor of Globalization and Education at NYU Steinhardt, co-led and co-found the Global TIES for Children Center at NYU, stewarding the center’s research for a decade. Their team conducts research in 14 conflict-affected countries, including Colombia, Peru, Lebanon, Jordan, Niger, and Bangladesh, to improve program and policy action that promotes children’s holistic learning and development. Effective this fall, Florencia Lopez Boo, has taken over duties as the director. Prior to her role at NYU, Lopez Boo spent 15 years evaluating, designing, and implementing early childhood development, social protection, and health programs with the Inter-American Development Bank.

Meredith Dank, a clinical associate professor and director of the Human Exploitation and Resilience program at the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management, has led nearly two dozen human trafficking studies. Recently, she ran a randomized controlled trial in two regions of India to address the high risk of human trafficking among the country’s Denotified Tribes. The research aims to reduce trafficking by developing economic alternatives and new livelihoods for the tribal communities.

Donna Shelley conducts research on tobacco use treatment and tobacco control policies in public healthcare networks for underserved populations. The professor of public health policy and management, vice dean for research in the Department of Public Health Policy and Management, and founding codirector of the Global Center for Implementation Science at the NYU School of Global Public Health recently studied high smoking rates among people living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. Her research seeks to develop a scalable, culturally appropriate model for implementing evidence-based treatment for tobacco users in outpatient HIV clinics in Vietnam.

Joo H. Kim is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and affiliated faculty of NYU’s Center for Urban Science and Progress and the NYU-KAIST Global Innovation and Research Institute. In collaboration with Korea University, his research in South Korea uses advanced 3D fall-threshold algorithms and intelligent surrogate models to develop wearable robotic devices to prevent falls and enhance safety.

Written by Dana Guterman

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

NYU Students Can Study at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Posted on March 11, 2024, modified on March 12, 2024 by Maxine P

KAIST’s Lyu Keun-Chul Sports Complex

NYU science and technology students who want to study abroad but stay on track with their majors will have another option starting this year: the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. KAIST is “an innovative and dynamic institution, and it is among the top science and technology universities in the world,” says Nyoka Joseph, the assistant director of student services for the NYU International Exchange Program. “NYU students will join 3,600 KAIST undergraduates and 3,000 graduate students who live and learn on a 350-acre campus in Daejeon, a city of 1.5 million people in central South Korea.”

The exchange program is part of a partnership between NYU and KAIST that was launched in 2022 to combine each university’s distinctive strengths and drive advances in research while forging new industrial collaborations and investments. The partnership also lays the groundwork for KAIST’s first campus in the United States, which will be a joint venture with NYU in New York City. Students who are interested in studying abroad at KAIST must first apply to be nominated. Once they are nominated, they will receive access to the KAIST application.

NYU students can choose from a wide variety of preapproved courses at KAIST or seek approval from their academic adviser or dean to take other courses at the institute. The preapproved courses take advantage of KAIST’s strengths in industrial design, technology and culture, artificial intelligence, and Korean language. For students who want to focus on science and technology courses while building their Korean skills, the Korean International House provides one-on-one Korean language tutoring and is one of many resources for NYU students.

Statue of Jang Yeong-sil in front of trees and glass building

Statue of Korean scientist, Jang Yeong-sil, on the KAIST Daejeon campus

“Nearly everything that a student needs can be found, including academic facilities, nearly 30 dorms, athletic facilities, dining, and international student support services,” says Joseph, who recently visited the KAIST campus to tour the facilities and surrounding city. “There are 60 undergraduate clubs and organizations that NYU students can join. When I spoke to international students on campus, they talked about how that helped them feel they were settling into the school socially and that it was a great way to meet people outside of the classroom.”

Repurposed from Global Notebook

Akkasah: Illuminating History Through Photography

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Maxine P

This summer, Akkasah, the photography archive at NYU Abu Dhabi’s al Mawrid Arab Center for the Study of Art, released 1,500 digitized photographs from across the Middle East, with some photographs dating back to the 19th century. Located within the NYU Abu Dhabi Library, this remarkable collection houses a treasure trove of images that chronicle the history, culture, and transformation of the Middle East and beyond.

An example from the archive: Taken in 1949 by Ibrahim Omara, this image of Egyptian actresses Aziza Helmy and Laily Fawzy in the back of a car is available in the Samir Farid Collection.
Reference ID: ref34_000002

Origins of the Archive

This fascinating collection of the photographic heritage of the Middle East was established in 2014 by Professor Shamoon Zamir, who still serves as its director. “When I joined NYU Abu Dhabi, I very much wanted to make some kind of contribution to work in the region,” says Professor Zamir. After noticing a lack of Middle Eastern photography archives, he designed Akkasah to be completely accessible, both online and in person.

Akkasah acquires photos from donations, family albums, studios, and even flea markets. They also work with people who allow Akkasah to digitally archive their collections while they retain the physical copies of their photographs.

Once collected, each photo is individually cataloged with any available metadata, such as the subject matter and location. Although most archives catalog their collections folder by folder, Akkasah catalogs each photograph. It’s a time-consuming process, but the extensive metadata and easy searchability put Akkasah in a class of its own.

Scholarly Impact

With its diverse collection of roughly 40,000 images spanning the late 1800s to the present, Akkasah provides a unique window into the past. Anthropologists, historians, and social scientists from around the world have access to this invaluable resource, offering insights into education, religion, fashion, and more.

“There are both amazing surprises and expected things in there,” says Professor Zamir. Some subjects provoke questions, for instance, two women kissing in a Cairo photobooth in the 1940s.

Beyond its role as a scholarly resource, Akkasah opens its doors to students and the wider community by hosting exhibitions, seminars, and lectures. They have taught workshops on skills such as archiving and constructing photo books. And anyone can browse the archive in person or online.

“Anyone, academic or nonacademic, can make an appointment and see whatever they want to see,” says Professor Zamir. “In fact, we very much welcome it.”

Professional Development Opportunities

For students who want to learn even more about archiving, Akkasah offers paid internships. Undergraduates can gain valuable experience in photography, digitization, and curation.

A studio portrait of a seated woman wearing a dark dress

An example from the archive: This studio portrait of a seated woman comes from the Kadikoy Foto Aile in Turkey and is available in the Ozge Calafato Collection.
Reference ID: ref263

Emily Broad, a Raleigh, North Carolina, native who graduated from NYU Abu Dhabi in 2022 with a degree in Art and Art History, is one former intern. “Akkasah is one of the reasons why I applied to NYU Abu Dhabi,” says Emily. “I was able to develop my interest in photography not only as a practice but also as an academic discipline.”

As part of a summer research project, she cataloged a collection from the granddaughter of Butti Bin Bishr who worked closely with Sheikh Zayed, the United Arab Emirates’ founder. “I spent the whole summer talking with her and going through each image, dating them and writing descriptions. That was a unique experience because I got to work with someone who was high-level in the UAE as well as form a relationship with her through the archival work.”

Building on the skills she learned, Emily went on to do an internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is now pursuing her PhD in Visual and Cultural Studies at the University of Rochester.

A Cultural Reservoir

Perhaps one of the archive’s most important roles is the preservation of cultural heritage. It documents traditions, customs, and art forms, helping safeguard the rich cultural tapestry of the Middle East. Anyone can stop in to reconstruct narratives, explore societal changes, and gain insights into the past.

Emily encourages students to take advantage of the unique resource. “Akkasah gives you a different look at the region than what people are used to, especially if you’re an American student,” she says. “I feel like we have preconceived notions about the Arab world that working with Akkasah really changed for me.”

Written by Kelsey Rexroat

NYU Buenos Aires: A Day in the Life

Posted on October 9, 2023, modified on October 10, 2023 by Maxine P

Jida, a College of Arts and Science sophomore, shares what a typical day is like for her at NYU Buenos Aires, offering insights on her experiences volunteering, living with her host mother, and soaking up the opportunity to live and study at the NYU global network’s southernmost site.

A Confession That Changes History: NYU Florence’s Marcello Simonetta Discovers New Twist in Pazzi Conspiracy

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Katie L

A newly found signed confession alters what historians thought they knew about one of history’s greatest conspiracies

Marcello Simonetta, right, narrates a reenactment of the Pazzi Conspiracy at Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio on April 26, 2023, the 500-year anniversary of the event.

Had Antonio Maffei da Volterra successfully assassinated Lorenzo de’ Medici, the course of Italian history would have been altered immensely. The roots of the infamous Pazzi conspiracy to oust the Medici family as rulers of Florence ran deep—everyone from the pope to the king of Naples had a part in it. The failed conspiracy took place over 500 years ago this spring, and today, few people know more about it than NYU Florence instructor Marcello Simonetta. So when he uncovered a confession letter from Antonio Maffei earlier this year, unearthing details never known before of the attempted assassination, Simonetta was astounded.

“I’ve been around these materials for a long time. I know the story quite well. I even wrote a book about it,” says Simonetta. “This confession wasn’t supposed to exist, but it does, and it’s amazing.” Simonetta laughs when he says this, but then notes that distrust is the most important part of being a successful historian. He explains that you have to believe there is more to every story—that the historians who came before you didn’t finish the job and left something more to discover—even when you don’t know what that something is. And in this case, it is a confession letter written and signed by Antonio Maffei shortly before his death.

“It’s the last thing he wrote, because soon after writing the confession, he died,” says Simonetta, who found the confession at the Archivio di Stato di Firenze in a file of poems, wills, and other completely unrelated documents. “Archives are the treasures of our past. If you look close enough, you’ll find things that are unbelievable but true.”

In the confession Maffei shares a timeline for the planned assassination of the Medici brothers (Lorenzo, who was injured, and Guiliano, who did not survive). Unaware of his specific role in the assassination until the day before it happened, he wrote that he arrived in Florence months before April 26, 1478—the day the plot was to be enacted. This information contradicts what writer and philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli wrote in Florentine Histories, which is considered one of the most accurate accounts of the conspiracy. But just the existence of the confession—that Maffei even had time to write it—debunks the idea that he was beaten and hanged immediately after the attack.

“There are a lot of details about the preparation of the conspiracy, which we didn’t know before,” explains Simonetta. “But the bottom line is we had no idea that Antonio arrived seven months ahead of time. These are all incredible details that make it very real and very human. The failure of the conspiracy is astounding, but also the conspiracy itself, as Machiavelli points out among other things, is extraordinary.”

Simonetta is an expert on Machiavelli and teaches a class about him at NYU Florence. As a matter of fact, Simonetta made the discovery at the same time the class was reading Machiavelli’s On Conspiracies, specifically the section about the Pazzi conspiracy.

Handwritten Italian text on a piece of paper

Antonio Maffei’s confession of the attempted assassination

“The students had read the materials, but they didn’t know there was this new element that had just surfaced from the dust of the past, so I used it in the class,” Simonetta notes. “When I can, I love to use firsthand documents because it makes history so much more alive. And that’s what history is all about. It’s about imagination; without imagination it’s just data. It’s raw data, so who cares? But when history becomes living history, which is a pun—lethal history more than living in this case—it comes alive.”

Simonetta says that having the opportunity to bring history to life for his students has been one of his favorite parts about teaching at NYU Florence. Teaching in the city where these events took place, he adds, brings a dynamic to the classroom experience that is unobtainable anywhere else in the world.

“I’ve taught classes about Machiavelli in the United States, but it’s not the same as going to the Basilica di Santa Croce and seeing his tomb. Or going to the villa where he wrote The Prince,” Simonetta concludes. “It becomes so real: you can touch it, you can feel it exactly as it is. So being here, in Florence, is an enormous plus for my students and for me.”

Written by Kelly McHugh-Stewart

NYU Affiliations Around the World: A Robust Network for Research and Study

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Maxine P

Students not only gain perspective and knowledge from time spent away from their home campus but also benefit from NYU partnerships with local institutions in the University’s global network. With one partnership that began before the global site itself was founded and another established over 50 years ago, it’s clear these relationships are invaluable to NYU research, scholarship, and community.

NYU Berlin

The Wilhelm von Humboldt Memorial in front of Humboldt University

Humboldt University in Berlin

NYU Berlin’s first agreement with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin was in 1995, and the partnership remains as strong as ever. Today, students can enroll in courses at Humboldt and access its library. In addition to its partnership with Humboldt-Universität, NYU Berlin has an impressive record of establishing—and continuing—student and faculty exchange programs with other German universities. For example, in 1995 NYU established an agreement with the Freie Universität Berlin. Over 20 years later, in 2019, Freie Universität hosted Radha S. Hegde, NYU professor of media, culture, and communication, as the Dahlem International Network Professor in Gender Studies to teach two seminars.

NYU London

Before NYU London was established in 1999, the University held a partnership with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) for NYU Tisch School of the Arts students. Even as course offerings and programming expanded into the NYU London we know today, that relationship has remained steadfast for over 20 years. Each semester, a small group of NYU students audition for placement in RADA’s Shakespeare in Performance program. Students learn all aspects of performing Shakespeare as they work with a variety of RADA instructors. The intensive program culminates with the performance of one of Shakespeare’s plays. A more recent partnership with the National Film and Television School was established in 2018, with the first NYU students taking Directing the Actor: London in 2019. At the end of the course, students shoot and direct professional actors on a soundstage.

NYU Paris

A young woman on a laptop sits on the steps to the Sorbonne, a building with large columns.

The Sorbonne building houses various Parisian universities including the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

Over the years, NYU Paris has established a number of agreements with local universities, including Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, and Université Paris Sciences et Lettres. These agreements allow NYU Paris students to take courses at these institutions, while Paris-based students have the opportunity to study at NYU’s campus in New York City. The relationship between NYU and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne dates back to the founding of NYU Paris in 1969. Currently, the agreement allows NYU Paris students with advanced proficiency in French to take Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne classes in subjects ranging from art and history to philosophy and mathematics. In addition, the University’s partnership with Université Sorbonne Nouvelle dates back almost as long—to 1975. Eligible NYU Paris students can take courses there in literature, cinema, theatre, and media studies.

NYU Sydney

A building in the Victorian Academic Gothic Revival style in front of a green manicured lawn

A view from inside the University of Sydney Quadrangle

In November 2021 NYU established a new partnership with the oldest university in Australia, the University of Sydney (USYD). Through the partnership, NYU Sydney students have all the benefits of being a full-time USYD student: living on campus, enrolling in USYD courses, and participating in the Industry and Community Projects Units (ICPUs). ICPUs pair students with an industry partner and academic lead to work on real issues that industry, community, and government organizations encounter. And the partnership benefits are reciprocal—USYD students have the opportunity to enroll in Sydney-based courses taught by NYU instructors or spend a semester abroad at NYU’s campus in New York City or one of NYU’s global academic sites.

NYU Tel Aviv

A partnership with Tel Aviv University (TAU) further enriches students taking science courses at NYU Tel Aviv. TAU, Israel’s largest university, is just a short distance from the NYU global academic center. While NYU Tel Aviv offers science courses, including Organic Chemistry II and General Physics II, TAU offers the lab sections for those courses.

Three people in white lab coats and safety glasses in a chemistry lab

NYU Tel Aviv students take a chemistry course at Tel Aviv University’s labs.

In addition, undergraduate students can intern in a research lab through NYU Tel Aviv’s biology internships at TAU. Depending on the type of research conducted at each lab, students may learn different techniques like cell culture, gel electrophoresis, and microscopy. During the internship, students take part in the experimentation, research, and writing processes with at least one PhD student. What’s more, TAU students can also take advantage of NYU’s resources in return by enrolling at one of the University’s global academic sites for a semester.

No Business Like Show Business: Internships at NYU Los Angeles

Posted on March 13, 2023, modified on March 20, 2023 by Maxine P

Sean sits on a couch across from his supervisor as people walk by in the background

Sean discusses a project with his supervisor at Atlantic Records

While attending NYU Los Angeles, students from across the University enroll in the Experiential Learning Seminar. Taught by entertainment and media industry professionals, the seminar focuses on key areas like production, business, and criticism. A requirement of the NYU Los Angeles program, the seminar pairs classroom learning with real-world experience to integrate professional development and relevant research and debate and expand students’ understanding of how these industries work.

Discovering New Aspirations

Sean Kelly, a Music Business major and recording artist, has always been interested in the arts. In his first year at NYU, he fell in love with the business side of the industry while learning about record contracts and royalties. He knew NYU Los Angeles was the right place to augment his academic work with professional experience. As soon as Sean was admitted to the program, he applied for internships at his dream companies, one of which was the Warner Music Group. Atlantic Records, a label under Warner Music Group, hired him, and he was thrilled to be a sales and streaming intern.

Sean Kelly

Sean worked with various departments to ensure projects were ready for release and tracked streaming performance across channels. “Sitting in meetings gave me the scoop on how different departments function,” he says. “Communication and flexibility are huge skills to have in the music industry, and they’re ones I developed on the job.”

The internship reinforced Sean’s love for the music industry, but it also taught him about new positions and departments he didn’t know existed. “I definitely have new aspirations because of my deeper understanding of how labels operate,” he says. “I left LA with new career prospects and goals as well as completely new passions and interests.”

Building a Network

Margo Resnik

Margo Resnik, Tisch School of the Arts Class of 2022, majored in Cinema Studies and knew she wanted to work in the film industry. But she also craved a role that would include analysis and history. After transferring from a community college in Santa Monica, CA, to NYU, she spent a year in New York City and then realized NYU Los Angeles would be a better fit for her goals: to be close to the film industry and graduate early.

Finding an internship in the competitive Los Angeles market wasn’t easy, but Margo credits NYU Los Angeles with making the process as smooth as possible. “They have a running list of new and upcoming postings that is updated daily, and they use every connection they have to help introduce you to different companies and people,” she says. Margo’s hard work and patience paid off when Artist Publishing Group hired her as a marketing intern last fall. During the internship, Margo learned many practical skills, but the relationships she formed were more important to her. “My boss was so incredibly helpful,” she says. “I’m still in contact with him, and he regularly reaches out to see how I am doing and provide me with leads for potential jobs. The entire experience has shown me there are people in this industry who truly want to help you.”

Written by Kristin Maffei

Students Traveled to NYU Tel Aviv Through a Steinhardt Dean’s Global Honors Seminar

Posted on March 6, 2023, modified on March 7, 2023 by Kristin Law

“The entire experience was really rewarding,” says Alice Hallock, a first-year Educational Theatre major at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, about her trip to NYU Tel Aviv. “Everything we did was grounded in the course. We got to really explore the culture, but, in the end, everything came back to what we learned from the textbooks. It was amazing to see it all play out in a real-world situation—you don’t get that with other classes.”

A group of students pose for a selfie with the ocean in the background

NYU Steinhardt Dean’s Global Honors Seminar students pose for a photo in Tel Aviv where their curriculum focused on families, schools, and child development came to life.

Established in 2012, the Steinhardt Dean’s Global Honors Seminars are semester-long, seminar-style courses that incorporate an international trip to one of 10 available NYU global academic centers. Open to first- and second-year students, the courses integrate a global perspective into the study of an interdisciplinary, liberal arts–based topic, from fashion and music to sustainability and biodiversity. Four seminars are offered every year—two in the fall and two in the spring—each focused on a different subject. This fall, NYU Steinhardt offered the course Families, Schools, and Child Development, where students traveled to Israel to experience their learnings in real time.

Families, Schools, and Child Development, led by Clinical Associate Professor of Applied Psychology Adina Schick, allows students to dive into readings, studies, and research projects throughout the semester. When the class arrived in Tel Aviv, it was as if their coursework came to life. The group spent each morning and afternoon of the trip visiting different schools in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. They had conversations with both elementary and high school students and learned about the differences—and similarities—between their experiences.

Five students sitting on benches in discussion

Debra Amata, majoring in Instrumental Performance, and Aaliyah Kamara, majoring in Applied Psychology, interview high school students at Jerusalem’s Mae Boyar High School international program.

“The class taught me a lot about noticing people of other cultures and not just celebrating them but really learning from them,” adds Alice. “It was impactful to talk to these kids then realize, ‘Oh, I went through this same exact thing.’ It opened my mind, and I know I’ll carry the trip and the conversations I had with me throughout my life, especially when I’m working with other children.”

Tiana Elavia, a second year at NYU Steinhardt majoring in Applied Psychology, went to elementary school in India and high school in the United States. According to Tiana, her personal experience in different educational systems and the opportunity to visit classrooms, talk to students, and learn about the Israeli educational system while on the class trip are what drew her to apply for the seminar in the first place. “The direct conversations we had with people, the hands-on work, that’s what I was looking for,” explains Tiana. “With this kind of trip, this kind of class, you get to talk to people about what they’re doing instead of just sitting in class reading an article. You get to be there yourself and ask your own questions.”

In Tel Aviv Applied Psychology major Mishal Shafique learns about an urban farming initiative with an elementary school student.

While second-year students are invited to apply to the Steinhardt Dean’s Global Honors Seminars, first-year students who meet a seminar’s specific requirements are invited to participate. The opportunity to travel their first year is often an appealing factor for deciding prospective students. The seminars give first-year NYU students a taste of what life is like at its global campuses and sites and, often, can be launching pads for future study away opportunities. “The biggest takeaway for me was just learning and thinking about how there are so many different people and ideologies, how there are so many things going on around the world that you just don’t know about,” says Tiana, who is making the most of NYU’s global opportunities and spending the spring semester at NYU Sydney. “This class really helped me broaden my horizons about different cultures, thoughts, and ideas.”

Written by Kelly McHugh-Stewart