Global Dimensions

News and notes from across NYU's Campuses and Sites

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.
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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

Study Away Prepares Students as Global Professionals and Global Citizens

Posted on December 4, 2023, modified on December 14, 2023 by Katie L

Rawan Al-Wakeal

We recently caught up with Rawan Al-Wakeal, manager of global career development at the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development and Office of Global Programs (OGP). Below, she describes why study away is important for students to become global citizens as well as competitive applicants beyond their time at NYU.

Tell us about your role at Wasserman and OGP.

As manager of global career development, I coach students to develop their career narrative with a global lens and cultivate relationships with global employers and alumni abroad. I travel to various NYU locations each semester to introduce career development opportunities to our students around the world. And I am also in charge of reading global internship applications. I do all of this through an identity, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility (IDBEA) lens, with a particular focus on coaching study-away students to support them in their professional development.

How does studying away help NYU students in their careers?

Global experiences help students gain violet ready skills. The 10 skills in this set—including collaboration, professionalism, and intercultural fluency—are ones we’ve identified as being particularly in demand by employers. At the Wasserman Center, we work with students to ensure they can develop and enhance their skills, even while studying away.

Having a global mindset and international experience can set them apart in the job search, since many organizations are global. The global nature of NYU influences our alumni’s ability to adapt to a variety of environments, connect with people from different backgrounds, and excel in new places. Especially in uncertain times, those skills are vital to standing out among the crowd.

You’ve had a lot of international experience yourself. After going to college in Canada, you traveled in the Middle East and Africa. How have those experiences helped you in your career?

My international experience exposed me to various experiences and skills, such as intercultural and global fluency, communication, self-awareness, and reflection, that have supported my career development. Through my travel experiences and interaction with locals, I learned the importance of cultural diversity and sensitivity as well as gained an understanding of social cues and etiquette.

Additionally, I learned to actively listen, express myself clearly, and build relationships with colleagues from around the globe. I also learned to communicate and understand different languages and dialects such as colloquial Egyptian Arabic and North Levantine Arabic, which added to my understanding of Gulf Arabic.

Moreover, growing up as a global citizen and third-culture kid, I’ve witnessed how global issues and being from underprivileged backgrounds affect not only one’s livelihood but also one’s career development. I strive to advocate for these issues in my career and recommend that study away students interact with different cultures and make a positive, global impact through their careers. I encourage my students to try and understand the world around them while they are abroad and take part in every social, artistic, cultural, and diverse experience they can. These experiences will live with them for the rest of their lives. My own experiences live with me and made me who I am as a person and professional.

Written by Kristin Maffei

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

Homestays as Language Immersion

Posted on November 20, 2023, modified on November 20, 2023 by Maxine P

One of the many benefits students gain from homestays is the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the local language. Here, a few students share their experiences learning, growing, and perfecting their language skills with their host families.

Fiona sitting on a music box in front of a microphone

Fiona practicing with her host family’s music ensemble

Fiona Cantorna, an Environmental Studies and Spanish dual major at the College of Arts and Science (CAS), chose to live in a homestay because she “wanted to connect more to the Porteño (Buenos Aires, Argentina) community.” That’s exactly what she did: her host family was a part of a weekly music ensemble, and Fiona had the chance to join them in making music. “My homestay was instrumental in improving my Spanish,” she says. “It provided a casual environment to practice my listening and speaking skills, in which I learned lunfardo (Argentine vocabulary) and even picked up the local Rioplatense accent!”

Chloe Bouquet Brown, an NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study student, lived with host Mina and her son, Xach, in Paris’ 10th Arrondissement during her time studying away. “My French transformed enormously throughout my year with Mina and Xach,” Chloe recalls. “They pushed me to practice French around the house. It was difficult at times, being tired from classes and yearning for home, but in the end, my confidence grew with their positive encouragement in the sanctity of the homestay. I interned at a local art gallery and could ask them about professional terminology and French work customs.”

Justin Strong takes a selfie in front of a boat

Justin visiting Venice while studying at NYU Florence

Justin Strong, a Business major at NYU Stern concentrating in marketing and management, chose to live in a homestay at NYU Florence because he knew the impact it would have on his Italian. “The homestay experience was phenomenal for my Italian,” Justin shares. “I told my host mother that I didn’t know any Italian, but I wanted to speak and learn as much as possible. Throughout the semester, we persisted in Italian, and it really paid off. Soon enough, we were having full conversations. I was really grateful for the homestay experience. By the end of the term, I was chatting with numerous locals without needing to switch to English.”

Sam Husemann-Erickson, a CAS Politics major, says he decided to live in a homestay “not only because of the lower cost, but also because it was an excellent way to improve my Spanish and get to know Argentine cuisine and culture in depth.” His hosts were a retired couple who helped him navigate Buenos Aires and loved to cook.“My host parents were more than happy to teach me Argentine expressions and more natural ways to express myself, and our discussions over dinner and breakfast were a great way to practice my Spanish throughout my stay.” His host mother even kept track of the recipes he liked and, at the end of the semester, wrote them down so he could take them home.

Two students sitting at a table with their host family for dinner

Sam eating dinner with his housemate and host family

Devyn Costello-Henderson, a Vocal Performance major concentrating in classical voice at NYU Steinhardt, had studied French for years before deciding to study away at NYU Paris. She couldn’t pass up the chance a homestay gave her to improve her language skills. “Staying in a homestay forced me to become comfortable speaking the language,” Devyn continues. “I didn’t feel the need to speak perfectly, but I could communicate well with the family. My host family loved to chat with me, and it was very helpful to listen to their everyday conversations in French. I found I could quickly understand almost everything they said, even if my own vocabulary was not as complete. I had fluid conversations in French without needing to pause often to search for words. I still made mistakes, but I had a higher comfort and confidence level speaking the language.”

Student Reporting in Buenos Aires

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Katie L

Maureen Zeufack

When Maureen Zeufack, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development Class of 2023, researched options for studying away, she wanted to explore somewhere new and was immediately drawn to NYU Buenos Aires. A Media, Culture, and Communication major, Maureen found the opportunity to immerse herself in Argentina’s unfamiliar yet vibrant and multicultural lifestyle too good to pass up. “I wanted to go somewhere I didn’t have a connection to, somewhere completely out of my wheelhouse,” Maureen explains. “Academically, I wanted to improve my Spanish. Plus, the media classes aligned with my major, so it really was the perfect fit.”

The daughter of Cameroonian immigrants, Maureen has family in Africa and Europe, and she lived in Asia as a child. What she didn’t expect while studying in Buenos Aires? Finding a slice of home in a place she’d never been.

Maureen was intentional about her class selection, especially when it came to choosing Santiago O’Donnell’s course Reporting Buenos Aires. “I took the class because I knew the semester would go by quickly, and I wanted to have an excuse to explore the city, get more familiar with the culture and the people, and dive into everything,” says Maureen. O’Donnell, a former staff writer at both the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post, assigns students stories that require them to engage with the surrounding city. This way they learn more about the city’s culture by putting themselves in new situations, observing their Argentine neighbors, and meeting people they may not otherwise encounter. “Since I’m Cameroonian American, I was interested in seeing what the African diaspora is like in Buenos Aires and, if there are Africans in the city, what’s going on in their communities,” says Maureen.

Maureen poses for the camera in El Buen Sabor Africano restaurant

Maureen inside El Buen Sabor Africano restaurant

For one of the class assignments, Maureen was tasked with writing a restaurant review. She was surprised to find there was only one African restaurant in all of Buenos Aires. Even more surprising? The owner and head chef, Maxime Tankouo, is also from Cameroon. And not only that—he and Maureen are from the same tribe.

“I thought, ‘What are the odds that in this country, where there aren’t many Black people or Africans in general, that not only is he Cameroonian, but he is also from the exact same tribe and the same part of the country as me?’” Maureen says with a laugh. “That was something we really bonded over.”

While sitting inside the walls of Tankouo’s restaurant, El Buen Sabor Africano, Maureen says she “immediately felt at home.” Although she was far from her familial home, there were pieces of it right there in Buenos Aires, from the music Tankouo played to the decor that filled his restaurant’s walls. She enjoyed a full meal—grilled corvina fish bathed in orange and red African spices, perfectly cooked sweet plantains, and a dish of spicy sautéed red beans and vegetables—all under the gaze of a large, painted lion, Cameroon’s national symbol, on the restaurant’s wall.

A plated meal of fish, plantains, onion, sauteed beans and vegetables

A filling meal of African flavors at El Buen Sabor Africano

Maureen gained more than just a good story for her class. “I know now that I’m especially interested in exploring the African diaspora experience in Argentina,” she says, which is what she focused her final class project on. She adds, “I realized the world is a lot smaller than you think. For something like this to happen while I was there, in a place where sometimes you don’t see a lot of people who look like you, it was necessary and refreshing. It was nice to see a familiar face and know that someone there had a similar background as me.”

Written by Kelly Stewart

The Global Leadership Program at NYU Washington, DC, Prepares Students to Become Ethical and Inclusive Change-Makers

Posted on November 6, 2023, modified on November 13, 2023 by Kristin Law

Each semester, the Global Leadership Program at NYU Washington, DC, welcomes select undergraduates for an intensive course designed to cultivate their strengths as leaders. “We provide students the ability to recognize not only how their strengths fit into an organization or a career field but also how the strengths of others are critical to their own success,” says Kari Miller, the program director of NYU Washington, DC. “The concept of global leadership has evolved to recognize diverse talents from different backgrounds, countries, and disciplines.”

A Semester of Theory, Application, and Growth

The Meaning of Leadership course is the heart of the program, and it is often a catalyst for students’ experiences. Lindani Zungu, an NYU Abu Dhabi senior studying political science and government, recalls one pivotal moment: “We discussed how to facilitate collaboration through psychological safety, meaning an open exchange of ideas, free from the fear of retribution or embarrassment,” he explains. “The discussion deepened our sense of community and underscored the immense value of this program.” In addition to academics, students engage in collaborative group projects; individual and group mentoring; special events like lectures, networking opportunities, trips, and workshops; and internships.

For Stefan Mitikj, an NYU Abu Dhabi senior double-majoring in Political Science and Social Research and Public Policy, the program clarified his career aspirations. “I bridged the gap between theory and real-world application and gained a practical and nuanced understanding of leadership and fields such as communications, education, international relations, and journalism,” he says.

An Ideal Place to Learn to Lead

Victoria Kiechel serves as a student and program adviser at NYU Washington, DC, and notes how the city adds considerable depth to the curriculum. “Leadership examples of all styles, and in all disciplines and scales of action—international, national, and local—are here. How power and leadership relate to one another is a constant theme in this town, which provides daily opportunities as well as cautionary tales to learn best practices.”

Avery Farino, a senior double-majoring in History and Politics at the College of Arts and Science (CAS), recognized the opportunity to explore her interests alongside public service. “The Global Leadership Program helped me understand the value of hands-on experience and networking in formulating leadership skills,” she remarks. Enzo Repetto, also a senior CAS Politics major, adds, “The program’s support network means you find yourself on the cutting edge of new developments happening across the country in a variety of fields.”

Nominate a Future Scholar

Matthew S. Santirocco, faculty director at NYU Washington, DC, and one of the program’s creators, has great aspirations for the Global Leadership Program and is proud of what it’s accomplished thus far. “Since its inception, the program has attracted bright and ambitious change-makers. Our hope is to attract even more students with diverse interests and leadership potential.”

If you would like to suggest an exceptional student, please fill out the nomination form. Students are also welcome to apply without recommendations.

Written by Auzelle Epeneter

Diversity and Inclusion in the NYU Global Network: Chijioke Obasi Named Director for Global Programs Inclusive Engagement

Posted on October 31, 2023, modified on November 13, 2023 by Maxine P

When Chijioke Obasi joined NYU earlier this year as director for global programs inclusive engagement, she brought a wealth of experience to the role. Dr. Obasi, who is based in London, began her higher education career as a communication support worker for deaf students who use sign language. Since then, she’s held various faculty and administrative roles in both social work and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). And she’s found that the two areas are more connected than one might think at first. “Valuing lived experience and cultural humility is transferable across both areas,” she says. “Working with difference and developing good intercultural communication skills are essential to both.”

Dr. Chijioke Obasi

Dr. Obasi’s doctoral research at the University of Central Lancashire centered the experiences of Black women and culturally Deaf women at work in the UK. She notes that her previous experience and research are directly applicable to her new role. “My work for the Office of Global Programs has made me think about how accessible our study away programs are for students from many different backgrounds,” she says. “It would be great to increase access for students with physical disabilities, for example, but this would need to be done in a way that promotes a truly inclusive environment, where students feel a true sense of belonging. I am keen to work with students and other colleagues to look at how we might best do this.”

Given how different DEI is across the world, it’s no small feat to ensure students from all backgrounds feel this sense of belonging and are able to realize their full potential while studying away. “Because of all the wide-ranging histories, legislation, and cultural practices across the world, we are not looking for a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Dr. Obasi.

It takes time to adjust to the culture, language, and even climate in a new country. Dr. Obasi offers students opportunities to tap into all the resources they have available for intercultural learning and communication. “From their predeparture to their return and beyond, our office ensures that all students have the chance to engage with their personal issues of identity and self-awareness as well as wider issues of global inclusion.”

To further their mission, Dr. Obasi and the Office of Global Programs now hold an online mixer where students from across the NYU global network can build community and discuss DEI issues. She also hopes to work closely with students currently studying away to make a series of videos about the global sites and student experiences within particular affinity groups. In addition, her plans to work closely with NYU staff and develop intercultural competence extend the scope of the typical global programs audience. The hope is that every community member can help make the NYU global network an even more diverse, welcoming, and vibrant place than it is already.

Written by Kristin Maffei

NYU Madrid: A Day in the Life

Posted on October 23, 2023, modified on April 8, 2024 by Katie L

Gabby, a Global Liberal Studies major concentrating in art, text, and media, learns about Spanish culture. Her day starts at her favorite coffee shop, then the Prado Museum, Retiro Park, and her internship at el Chico, an art gallery, and it ends at the NYU Madrid academic center where she attends her evening class on Spanish cinema.

Prague Internships

Posted on October 16, 2023, modified on November 27, 2023 by Kristin Law

NYU Prague students share their favorite moments from internships during their time studying away.

Three smiling NYU students face a group of children

NYU Prague students teach Czech elementary school students English through the Prague Elementary program.

Prague Elementary
This program brings native English users into Prague elementary schools to help children learn English.

“My best memory was helping the students gain the confidence to perform a play in English! Many of the students felt out of place because they were experiencing something new, but it was heartwarming watching them come out of their shells.”
—Emily Tsao, Music Education, Class of 2025

“When one of the kids gave me a drawing of their family. It was so sweet and reminded me of my own.”
—Lina Wang, Business, Class of 2024

Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU)
Since 1991, this nonprofit and nongovernmental organization has supported refugees in the Czech Republic. OPU offers free legal and social counseling, training programs for professionals, and other activities to welcome and integrate refugees. Fighting against xenophobia and racial and ethnic intolerance is one of their main goals.

“Organizing a Holi event for the kids and watching them decorate bags, color, and get their faces painted!”
—Ela Kulkarni, Global Liberal Studies, Class of 2025

CEE Bankwatch Network
CEE Bankwatch Network is a global network of 15 member groups and 13 countries working to prevent environmentally and socially harmful international development as well as promote alternative solutions and community input.

“Writing a case study on a hydropower plant in Serbia!”
—Molly Bombard, Public Policy, Class of 2024

Memory of Nations’ High School
Opened in 2021, the Memory of Nations’ High School focuses on modern history, social and media education, practical journalism, world languages, and other humanities subjects. In addition to partnering with NYU Prague, the high school works with Sokolov Grammar School and the Higher Vocational School of Journalism.

“It’s hard to come up with a specific moment, but I’m fortunate enough to have developed a kind of relationship where we’re open and sharing about our personal lives. The students feel like my mini-therapists sometimes.”
—Emily Yang, Sociology, Class of 2024

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.