Global Dimensions

News and notes from across NYU's Campuses and Sites

Global Equity Fellows Serve as Diversity Ambassadors Around the World

Posted on , modified on by Katie L

NYU has 12 academic centers and programs around the world, each in a region with unique customs, traditions, and beliefs that may be unfamiliar to students studying abroad for the first time. Luckily, each site also hosts Global Equity Fellows (GEFs), specially trained upper-level students tasked with advancing inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility (IDBEA) at study away sites while simultaneously supporting meaningful cultural transition.

The Global Equity Fellowship is a competitive semester-long fellowship created by the NYU Office of Global Programs in partnership with NYU’s Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation, the NYU Changemaker Center, and the NYU Division of Student Affairs. Before leaving home, GEFs participate in the Global IDBEA Leadership Institute training to master leadership, crisis management, and community-building skills. Once abroad, they step into their new roles, working closely with site staff to develop a research project that focuses on IDBEA and listen to and advise students who are navigating challenges in their host cities.

Meaningful Collaboration

Ruben Mayorga with Jerusalem in the background

Ruben Mayorga on a trip to Jerusalem during his time at NYU Tel Aviv

NYU Shanghai graduate Ruben Mayorga had already spent a semester at NYU Tel Aviv when he returned there as a GEF in fall 2021. This time he was equipped with new tools shared by NYU global staff. “In training I worked with all the GEFs who were heading to diverse places, and this diversity enriched the conversations by allowing me to see potential problems that might arise at the site and come up with more diverse solutions,” Ruben explains. “It allowed me to take a step back and absorb different perspectives in similar topics. It was a really enriching experience.”

During his fellowship, Ruben worked closely with Eran Rotshenker, NYU Tel Aviv’s manager of student life and housing. Rotshenker guided Ruben as he navigated more sensitive topics like the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and religion in Israel. “Global Equity Fellows should be passionate about what they want to promote—and should also be tuned in to the community they are serving,” Rotshenker says. “Having stayed in Tel Aviv before that fall, Ruben already knew what was essential to share with the NYU Tel Aviv community. I truly enjoyed seeing how he took the opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with the new group of students and witnessing his transformation into the social leader he is today.”

A Safe Space for Growth

Mi-Kaisha Masella

Mi-Kaisha Masella

At NYU Berlin, Tisch School of the Arts senior Mi-kaisha Masella found ways to prioritize listening and create safe spaces for students—and herself—to learn and grow. She developed a close mentor relationship with former staff member Linn Friedrichs, who is now the deputy head of college at Mahindra United World College in India, and she soon felt comfortable sharing ideas and brainstorming solutions for various challenges. Mi-kaisha also spent time meeting with students and talking through their concerns together. “I wanted my peers to be open and honest about their experiences, both positive and negative, at NYU Berlin as well as in the city at large,” she explains. For her research project, Mi-kaisha developed a training module for faculty and staff at NYU Berlin on trauma-informed teaching practices. “I was proud to develop a resource for the NYU Berlin community to use that will support the creation of a safer, more inclusive, and more informed learning community in the future,” she says.

Diving Into Research

For his research project, NYU Buenos Aires GEF and College of Arts and Science senior Ivan Brea turned his attention to the local LGBTQ+ community and dance. “Out of all Argentina’s cultural intricacies, perhaps no dance form is more heavily linked with Argentina’s history than the tango,” Ivan explains. “And in recent years, Argentine tango has undergone a cultural transformation initiated by the LGBTQ+ community.” Now it’s more common to see two men, two women, or people of any gender dancing the tango together in addition to the traditional form featuring a man and a woman. “Queer tango has become a tool for the LGBTQ+ community to maintain their own cultural identity while serving as an expression of their queerness,” he argues in his research project.

Ivan Brea in front of waterfalls

Ivan Brea on a visit to Iguazú Falls during his time at NYU Buenos Aires

During his fellowship, Ivan also organized a number of other initiatives for the NYU Buenos Aires community. Under the guidance of Assistant Director of Student Life Paula Di Marzo and other faculty, he held weekly Breathing Room sessions, where students could discuss IDBEA issues they experienced both in and out of the classroom. He hosted events like Ni Una Menos and the Global Feminist Tide with Professor Cecilia Palmeiro and Queer Cultures in Context with Professor Mariano López Seoane. Ivan also took care to prioritize everyday things that would make Argentina feel more like home, such as finding restaurants that serve traditional food or salons that cut non-Argentine hair. “Because heavy topics such as race, sexuality, and gender can look very different in a new cultural context, I really wanted to make people feel more comfortable,” Ivan says. “The fellowship was an amazing way to be there for my fellow students.”

Wherever they are in the world, GEFs are one of many resources available to help NYU students make the most of their time in an unfamiliar place. “Inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility are big topics and key pillars of our communities as well as our personal lives,” says Mi-kaisha. And as ambassadors of these topics, GEFs are an integral part of helping NYU students feel at home abroad—while challenging them to expand their definitions of community and culture.

Written by Sarah Bender

Minds and Machines at NYU Paris

Posted on by Maxine P

In this philosophy course, students learn the art and science of debate

 

A Twist on a Traditional Philosophy Course

Dr. Frédérique de Vignemont sitting at a desk

Dr. Frédérique de Vignemont

In her philosophy course called Minds and Machines at NYU Paris, Dr. Frédérique de Vignemont merges concepts from the humanities and the sciences to offer a unique and interactive experience for her students. “I’m a philosopher who likes to talk about science,” she says. “I’m not just hard-core humanities. In my class I try to get the two sides talking, which can sometimes be a challenge. My class is open to all majors, and that makes it interesting because each student brings a unique perspective to the table.”

Philosophy in Practice

Dr. de Vignemont’s course is a series of lectures on philosophical concepts coupled with interactive debates about thought-provoking questions like: Can machines think like humans? Do all animals feel pain? Are humans different from machines?

“I choose debate topics that students can feel deeply about,” Dr. de Vignemont says. “This class is all about practicing philosophy, not just reading or listening to lectures about it. During debates, I help students find their way of thinking and formulate their objections.”

According to Dr. de Vignemont, the ability to debate is an important skill for students to have regardless of their major. “Students need to learn how to listen to each other, even when they disagree. They also need to learn how to present their arguments in a way that the other side can understand.”

For Xichen Li, a College of Arts and Science Class of 2023 Philosophy major, the course’s weekly debates were her favorite part because they exposed her to different perspectives and allowed her to recognize the flaws in her own arguments.

“During the debates, I was able to broaden and diversify my perspectives on philosophical issues and life in general,” says Xichen. “As the class went on, we learned how to think and debate in more creative, rigorous, and nuanced ways. The habit of debating continues to benefit me to this day.”

Beyond the lectures and debates, Dr. de Vignemont teaches students more general skills like how to analyze a paper, how to defend a viewpoint, and how to synthesize their findings.

 

Two students seated in the foreground in discussion with Dr. de Vignemont seated in the background

Dr. de Vignemont listens to students debate in her NYU Paris course, Minds and Machines.

Gaining Unexpected Life Skills

When students complete the Minds and Machines course at NYU Paris, they leave with an appreciation for life’s quiet complexities. They know how to think critically about topics, ask probing questions, and find comfort in the unknown. “As an undergraduate, I was told the ability to be surprised is the main philosophical skill,” says Dr. de Vignemont. “We take so many things for granted. It’s the philosopher’s job to be picky and ask questions. While I’m not sure students will get many answers from this class, I’m certain they’ll learn how to ask new questions.”

And that’s exactly what happened for Xichen Li—she felt the power and beauty of questioning for the very first time.

“I realized questioning existing answers can open up new possibilities,” says Xichen. “Sometimes asking questions can point out flaws in our past understanding and push our mindsets forward. But even when our mindsets don’t move forward (because many philosophical questions seem to have no clear answers), asking questions can reveal how ignorant and finite we are. In this class I learned that questioning is a fantastic way to explore the world and feel the depth of the unknown.”

Written by Samantha Jamison

Endless Opportunities: May Alhajeri, NYU Abu Dhabi, 2021

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As a youth delegate to the United Nations, May Alhajeri used her NYU Abu Dhabi education to build connections across cultures and opportunities for the United Arab Emirates’ future

May Alhajeri and Rashid Alrafie smile at the camera with UAE United Nations representatives

[from left to right] Mohamed Abushahab, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE; May Alhajeri; Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE; Rashid Alrafie; Amiera AlHefeiti, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE

After graduation, May Alhajeri, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2021, was selected to be a United Arab Emirates youth delegate to the United Nations. This role allowed her to provide input on issues related to youth and participate in the UAE delegates’ daily work. In addition, the position gave May, a Political Science major, direct experience in foreign affairs and reassured her that she’d chosen the right career path. For May, being a UAE youth delegate to the UN in 2021 was excellent timing. That same year, the UAE celebrated its 50th anniversary; hosted the postponed Expo 2020 Dubai, which exhibited the world’s best examples of collaboration, innovation, and cooperation and was the first World Expo hosted in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region; and prepared to serve on the UN Security Council.

Learning and Working at the UN

During her time as a youth delegate, May worked on several initiatives, including the Our Common Agenda report that aims to strengthen youth participation in decision-making for the future, and events for the UN’s sustainable development goals. She also traveled to the UN headquarters in New York City where she met Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh and her team, who, according to May, are incredible examples of Emirati diplomacy abroad.

In addition, May had the opportunity to collaborate with other youth delegates across the UAE and the world. She counts that as her proudest accomplishment during the program.

“Working with other youth delegates opened my horizons to the endless opportunities of youth engagement and involvement globally. And it allowed me to witness the existing interest and devotion to addressing the issues that impact our collective future, such as climate change, poverty, access to education, and women’s empowerment,” she says.

Two youth delegates seated at UN general assembly hall seats

May Alhajeri with fellow UAE youth delegate, Rashid Alrafie, in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York City

Open-Mindedness as a Core Value

“Personally speaking, my main takeaway from those collaborations was the opportunity to be open and accepting. Being open-minded is a continuous practice that is not limited to a certain culture or geographical presence. The more you invest in a new culture, nation, or country, the more you unleash its potential and the better you can understand the world around you.”

May credits NYU Abu Dhabi with helping her prepare for the experience. “From the diverse student body to the high-level education I received there, NYU Abu Dhabi is one of the most influential pillars behind my personality today,” she says. “Every engagement with every student during my four years there made it that much easier to engage and interact with other delegates in the program. The education I received in my international relations courses served as a foundation for the practical experience I had during my time as a youth delegate.”

Focusing on the Future

Now that the program has finished, May is thinking about her future and is excited for the nearly endless options it holds. “Today, there are a million and one things I wish to contribute to. So, for right now, I’m taking each day on its own,” she says. Currently, May is an officer at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and a participant in McKinsey & Company’s Forward learning program for young talent. Most importantly, she is building upon the work she began at NYU Abu Dhabi and continued as a youth delegate to the UN by engaging with the development of opportunities for Abu Dhabi’s future every day.

This article is an update to NYU Abu Dhabi Latest News’ article, with updates written by Kristin Maffei.

A New Collaboration Creates a Bridge for Ukrainian Students at NYU Prague

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Ukrainian students and the NYU president smile at the camera

NYU President Andy Hamilton welcomes Ukrainian students to NYU Prague.

The start of the school year marked the arrival of a new cohort within the NYU community—a group of nearly 15 displaced Ukrainian students who will spend the 2022–23 academic year at NYU Prague.

The students became part of the NYU Prague community and will study alongside full-time NYU degree students. This program was developed as part of University efforts to provide educational opportunities and other assistance to students and scholars affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

NYU identified students for the program in partnership with the Ukrainian Global University (UGU), a consortium of Ukrainian universities dedicated to creating opportunities for Ukrainian students and scholars to continue their education. To further support students, NYU Prague developed special resources and programming for the cohort, including counseling services, health insurance, and a stipend to help cover living expenses.

“NYU is arguably the most global university in the world, so when international crises occur, our community feels them at our core and wants to respond in very tangible ways,” explains Josh Taylor, associate vice chancellor for global programs and mobility services. “There is an all-hands-on-deck mentality right now with a deep commitment to try and help students and scholars who are at risk. Education is an important foundation, especially for these undergraduates who have their whole lives ahead of them.”

Two people smiling and laughing

NYU Prague Assistant Director for Student Life, Yveta Kenety, chats with Ukrainian students.

NYU Prague, with its geographic proximity to Ukraine and similarities in language and culture, offers a comparatively easy transitional point for the visiting students, according to Thea Favaloro, associate director of NYU Prague. Further, she says welcoming this cohort in our community gives an opportunity for NYU students—many of them American—to gain a deeper and personal insight on how the Russian invasion has affected the Ukrainian people: “We can’t completely understand what these students have been going through, but we are very sincere in our desire to help them while they’re here with us.”

For Anastasiia Koverha, a Marketing student from V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, the opportunity has been empowering. “As I watched Russian missiles destroy my university, I thought I would never be back to my normal student life again,” she explains. “But as I started the enrollment process at NYU Prague, supported by NYU staff at every stage, I felt I was not alone. And being in Prague now, meeting so many incredible people, I finally feel I am not helpless. I know I will return to my country with new knowledge and experiences that will aid in our recovery.”

Likewise, Anna-Mariia Mandzii, an International Relations, Public Communications, and Regional Studies major from the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, recognizes this year as the chance to deepen her knowledge of her chosen field. “The opportunity to study at NYU Prague is invaluable,” she says. “Being here allows me to look at the current situation in the world, especially the Russian war against Ukraine, from a different perspective.”

While the hope is for a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict, NYU continues to stand with Ukraine and others affected by crises around the world. In recent years, NYU in New York City welcomed students from Puerto Rico who were affected by Hurricane Maria, as well as Tulane University students who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Dr. Tymofii Brik, rector of the Kyiv School of Economics and one of the founders of the UGU, notes, “Having the support of NYU, one of the best and most known universities in the world, is crucial. The leadership at NYU recognized the potential of the UGU and immediately decided to support it. Making strong decisions in times of uncertainty—and then delivering—is rare nowadays. This exchange program is excellent because it ensures that students will come back to Ukraine and contribute to making it a better place.”

Written by Auzelle Epeneter

Fall 2022 Orientation Week in Images

Posted on , modified on by Kristin Law

Orientation Week at NYU global locations introduces students to the history and culture of their new home through exciting programming. Additionally, students receive important academic information to set them up for success during their time away. 

NYU Abu Dhabi

A student surfing down a hill of sand as other students wait for their turn.

NYU Abu Dhabi welcomes more than 120 study away students from New York City and Shanghai. Staff members love to introduce them to the Emirates with a weekend trip to Dubai and a cultural day in Abu Dhabi.

NYU Florence

Students sitting in the amphitheater as they learn from an authority figure.

New students at NYU Florence attend a session about community values in the amphitheater on the beautiful 57-acre estate of Villa La Pietra.

NYU Madrid

A group of students gathering with a professor on the street in Madrid.

NYU Madrid orientation week features great academic activities like Mapping Madrid, a series of five tours in five city locations led by five NYU Madrid professors. This location is Tetuán, a barrio of contrasts where many cultures mix.

NYU Paris

Four students posing for the camera with the Eiffel Tower visible in the background.

Fall 2022 students enjoy Paris on a boat cruise along the Seine during Welcome Week.

NYU Prague

A trio of students surveying the front of the Municipal House.

Students admire the Municipal House, where the independent Czechoslovakia was established in 1918. During orientation at NYU Prague, they walk around the historical center of Prague while asking questions about Czech history.

NYU Sydney

A student role playing at parliament, while other students are sitting in rows behind them.

At NYU Sydney, students visit the New South Wales Parliament House, the oldest house of parliament in Australia. Students role play as speaker of the house, government members, or opposition members.

NYU Tel Aviv

Students and faculty members gathering in the NYU Tel Aviv courtyard for an orientation event.

Students, staff, and faculty convene at the traditional faculty panel and welcome dinner during orientation week at NYU Tel Aviv.

NYU Washington, D.C.

A professor lecturing in front of a projection screen.

Professor Vicky Kiechel leads a Washington 101 session for students during orientation week at NYU Washington, DC.

The Career Benefits of Studying Away

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As graduation approaches, NYU students who are preparing to enter the workforce meet with recruiters to discuss their academic achievements, internship experiences, and extracurricular activities. Another thing recruiters are sure to ask them about: their study away experience.

According to Jonathan Martinez, assistant director of global academic planning at the Wasserman Center for Career Development, students develop an invaluable skill set when they study abroad.

A seated woman turning to look at a colleague

An NYU Washington, DC, student talks to a coworker at their internship at the Mexican embassy.

They learn how to connect with different people, adapt to new environments, and solve difficult problems. They acquire non-English language skills, develop a more nuanced understanding of the world, and transform into culturally sensitive adults. With these abilities, NYU students tend to emerge as top candidates in the workforce.

“Many students have told us their study away skills and experiences have been critical in professional settings,” says Martinez. “Our study away administrators and Wasserman coaches also coach students on how to translate their study abroad experiences into vivid examples that showcase their adaptability, openness to new experiences, ability to work independently, and facility for cross-cultural dialogue.”

The Role of Wasserman in the Global Career Experience

Every semester, Wasserman hosts a career week to provide students with global professional development opportunities, whether they’re interested in internships or postgraduation careers.

This past spring, the Global Career Week was virtual and featured an array of events including a workshop on personal branding, a discussion on the global job search, and a session on volunteering with the Peace Corps. Students heading abroad for a semester, year, or summer have the unique chance to seek out internships that align with their interests and professional goals while gaining global experience, and, regardless of their destination, students can work with Wasserman to find the right opportunity. If students want to head abroad for work after graduating, the Wasserman team can help them

  • secure an international work permit
  • obtain or renew their passport
  • find a place to live
  • connect with a career coach
  • find a country-specific job or internship
  • network with alumni
A student and an adviser seated at a table

Students can consult Wasserman career coaches to learn how to leverage their global study experience.

Study Abroad Resources from the Office of Global Programs

Much like the Wasserman Center for Career Development, NYU’s Office of Global Programs has a range of resources students can use to make the study abroad experience more accessible.

“The Office of Global Programs is committed to breaking down any perceived or actual barriers students may face when submitting interest for study abroad,” says Martinez. “Providing extra funding for students is one thing we do because a financial burden holding students back from studying away is the last thing we want to happen. All students are eligible for the Global Pathways Scholarship, and, in some cases, students can use funding for up-front costs like plane tickets. We also offer many cohort-based programs like the Study Away Internships in which enrolled students are guaranteed an internship!”

Written by Samantha Jamison

Staff Spotlight: Edan Raviv, Assistant Director of Academics, NYU Tel Aviv

Posted on by Katie L
Portrait of Edan Raviv

Edan Raviv

Spending a semester in Tel Aviv, Israel, provides “a little bit of everything,” says Edan Raviv, assistant director of academics at NYU Tel Aviv. “There’s challenging courses, amazing networking opportunities, and a unique culture and society. It’s a more off-the-beaten-path experience for NYU students.”

Staff members like Raviv help students navigate the excitement and complexity of Tel Aviv from day one. The program includes an intensive weeklong orientation, with workshops on acclimatization, political diversity, basic Hebrew, and more. Guest lecturers, including Israeli diplomats, artists, and academics, teach students about Israel’s rich history and culture. A highlight for many students, says Raviv, is a visit to the Yitzhak Rabin Center, a famed museum and education institute.

Born to Israeli parents and raised in California, Raviv went to college at UC Santa Barbara, then earned his MA in Politics from NYU (2008), and later moved to Israel to pursue a PhD at Tel Aviv University. When he heard about the assistant director role at NYU Tel Aviv, he found it to be “an amazing fit,” combining his bicultural identity, background in academia, and administrative skills. He’s been in the role since fall 2016, supporting participants “to grow as students and as citizens.”

Throughout the semester, students receive ongoing personal support and myriad academic opportunities. For those interested in studying innovation, the program offers a generous grant. Students connect with staff members and one another through a weekly newsletter, an active Facebook group, and frequent WhatsApp chats. Off-campus, Tel Aviv offers students internships at burgeoning start-ups, prominent human rights organizations, and renowned museums.

A professor lectures a class of students

Raviv leads the Religion, Politics and the State in Comparative Perspective course.

In addition to participating in internships and cultural activities, students at NYU Tel Aviv have access to a world-class roster of professors as they learn about the history and politics of the region. And thanks to the program’s smaller scale, adds Raviv, students can connect with staff on an individual level. “My favorite part of the job is interacting with students from all over the world,” he says. “Knowledge, insight, and innovation can come from anywhere, regardless of age, previous knowledge, or background. Over the course of each semester, the students here learn so much, but I feel like I learn just as much, too.”

“The best part about NYU Tel Aviv is the diversity of experiences and perspectives,” affirms Raviv. “Students who want to grow—not just academically, but personally, socially, culturally, and professionally—will be very satisfied here.”

Modern Dissent in Prague

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In the late 1980s, revolution was stirring in Communist Czechoslovakia, and Jan Urban was at the center of it. While reporting for Radio Free Europe and the BBC, he was also secretly working with underground newspapers and leading a fledgling dissident network called the Eastern European Information Agency. His efforts helped bring the country to the 1989 Velvet Revolution, a nonviolent uprising that toppled the Communist regime and brought democracy to his homeland. Because of his pivotal role in the revolution, Urban became the leader of the Civic Forum, a political, anti-communist movement he helped found.

Jan Urban gesticulates to his class

Professor Jan Urban giving a lecture

In the first free elections in June 1990, the public turned its attention to Urban as a natural choice for prime minister, but he declined. The reason? He says, “I was too good at giving speeches and mobilizing crowds. It was frightening to have such power, and I gladly gave it up.”

Teaching from Personal Experience

Urban turned away from politics and spent several years as a war journalist in the former Yugoslavia and Iraq. He began teaching courses about political dissent and civil disobedience at the Czech Republic’s Charles University. At NYU Prague, too, he teaches its most popular course, Modern Dissent in Central Europe: The Art of Defeat. In the classroom Urban uses his personal history as a case study.

Students, seated in desks, listening to Professor Urban

NYU Prague students in the Modern Dissent in Central Europe course

He knows it’s far more compelling to experience a personal account of what happened than to read about it in a textbook. His goal is to help students understand how civil disobedience led to positive changes for the people of the Czech Republic—and what it can also do for movements like Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street.

“To act outside of what is mainstream and fashionable is more important today than ever before, and political dissent is a tool we can use to dismantle ideas that no longer work. Sometimes it’s our civic responsibility to be different.”  —Jan Urban

Students Explore Obedience and Resistance

In class discussions students work through topics like obedience and dissent, the media and propaganda, and government and civic responsibility. Urban challenges them to think by being the dissenters in the room. “Young people often say what they’ve been taught without questioning it deeply, so it’s necessary to provoke them, expose their prejudices, and destroy their ready-made conclusions,” he says. Though he makes his students uncomfortable at times, he also broadens their thinking. “Television has changed our lives and democracies into entertainment and emotional games,” Urban says.

Repurposed from NYU Global Notebook. 

NYU Florence Embraces a History of Sustainability

Posted on by Katie L

NYU Florence does not offer your typical college experience. Located on the stunning Villa La Pietra estate, the 550-year-old, 57-acre academic center includes five historic villas, a world-famous art collection, Renaissance gardens, and lush olive groves. Prior to NYU inheriting it, the estate served as a retreat for its owners’ families. Today, it’s home to the NYU Florence community, connecting students and staff to the past—and to the world around them.

That’s why NYU Florence is committed to ongoing sustainability efforts, including growing their own food for the dining hall, launching a community farm, and optimizing museum operations for environmental sustainability, through the Terra Firma Firenze program. “The uniqueness of the center lies in its location in a well-preserved green area of the city; the buildings, the formal gardens, and the landscapes are visually and physically connected,” explains Francesca Baldry, Villa La Pietra’s collection manager. “When our students arrive, they become aware of how their well-being connects with the natural world.”

A Legacy of Self-Sufficiency

Three students holding bins filled with green vegetables smiling at the camera

NYU Florence students harvesting vegetables in the pomario.

For hundreds of years, a variety of wealthy Florentine families called Villa La Pietra’s five villas home. During that time, Tuscany’s economy was agriculturally based, and the estate was largely self-sufficient, growing its own food, monitoring the soil, and carefully preserving water. “It’s important to remember that, though a villa always produces food, it is not a farm. Its overriding purpose is the well-being of the folk who live on the estate. Here, that’s the NYU Florence students,” says Nick Dakin-Elliot, a horticultural associate at NYU Florence. “At Villa La Pietra, for most of history, its agriculture has been largely self-sufficient, with a proven record of sustainability. And soon we’ll officially launch our community farm, marking a move to return to sustainable, healthy food production at Villa La Pietra.”

To this day, the estate features olive groves, vegetable gardens, and a pomario (a walled kitchen garden), which includes over 100 lemon and orange trees in individual terra-cotta pots. When students broached the subject of how they could eat the bounty of food grown on the grounds, staff began pondering the possibilities. “Students are always the focus of all of our efforts, and we always take their voices into consideration,” affirms Baldry.

Building a Hyper-Local Food System

Starting this spring, NYU Florence’s dining hall will serve food grown on the estate. First, students will have the opportunity to sow, water, and harvest crops at the community farm. Then, they can taste the fruits of their labor in their next meal. Cristina Fantacci Cellini, NYU Florence visit and event coordinator, adds, “Having a hands-on approach in the vegetable garden is a unique experience, which teaches students the value of fresh and organic produce and the importance of composting.”

Two students crouch next to vegetable beds

NYU Florence students working in the no-dig vegetable garden.

In addition, the NYU Florence community can access a range of virtual and in-person lectures, workshops, and discussions to augment their connection to the center and the environment. Offerings include a discussion about caring for your veggies over coffee; a cooking lesson with black cabbage (also known as Tuscan kale), traditionally the only green vegetable available during late winter in Tuscany; and a foraging trip around the olive groves.

Green Initiatives Beyond the Garden

In addition to growing their own food, NYU Florence emphasizes sustainability in residence halls, classrooms, and the museum. In fact, Baldry recently shared NYU Florence’s efforts in relation to greening the museum and grounds as part of the Historic House Museums for a Sustainable World: Challenges and Opportunities conference organized by the International Council of Museums and DEMHIST. “In 2013 I read a book called The Green Museum, and I found it so inspiring!” says Baldry. “Is it possible, I asked myself, to spend less energy while still preserving artworks in a good museum environment?”

At Villa La Pietra, she’s doing just that. Museum staff aim to reduce energy usage and waste, consume less water, utilize eco-friendly supplies, and increase public participation in sustainability efforts. Furthermore, the whole community has drastically reduced its use of printed materials, banned single-use water bottles, and committed to using all recyclable products in the dining hall and at events. “We explore the concept of sustainability from many different angles,” concludes NYU Florence student Juancarlos (JC) Navarro. “It’s left us all with a refreshed perspective on our relationship to Tuscany’s beauty.”

Written by Dana Guterman

NYU Anthropology and Journalism Major Lands Internship at Haaretz

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When Anthropology and Journalism major Andrew Califf decided to spend a semester at NYU Tel Aviv, he thought he might get the opportunity to gain direct experience in social media management or land a general journalism internship. What he actually achieved, in just a few months, was the publication of multiple articles in Haaretz—the Israeli equivalent of the New York Times. This incredible experience helped bring him closer to his dream career.

From Internship to Mentorship

Andrew Califf

Andrew Califf

The third-year College of Arts and Science (CAS) student was no stranger to studying abroad. He had already spent a semester in Shanghai, wanting to take full advantage of the global campus that inspired him to enroll in NYU in the first place. But this time, he was determined to immerse himself in his passion for archaeology through NYU’s program in Tel Aviv. Israel, with its proximity to diverse Middle Eastern cultures and its incredible wealth of ruins, seemed like a perfect fit. And when he realized the opportunities Haaretz presented, it sealed the deal. “I met with an internship coordinator from Haaretz when I was in Nicaragua at an archaeology field school this summer,” Andrew says. “She had seen some of the fieldwork I was doing on my website, and the first thing we talked about was the archaeology department there. I didn’t even know that was a possibility!”

And what a treasure trove of possibilities it was. Though the newspaper’s archaeology section is widely read, publishing high-profile stories that attract the attention of the Smithsonian and National Geographic, the department is very small. Editor Ruth Schuster—whom Andrew would come to work directly with as he learned the ropes and mastered the tools of the trade—writes a large portion of the articles. “At first, I was in over my head,” Andrew admits. “I had to learn very quickly—to be able to take a step back from failure and figure out how to breeze through that part of the editing process the next time.” But before long, Andrew moved from simple listicles to features and news stories. “Ruth is one of the best archaeological journalists there is,” he says. “She saw my talent and desire to succeed, and because of her help and support, I’m gaining exponentially more than I ever thought I could from this experience.”

The city of Tel Aviv behind the Jaffa Clock Tower

The city of Tel Aviv behind the Jaffa Clock Tower

Opportunities Abroad

Beyond Haaretz, the region has much to offer Andrew during his time abroad. At NYU Tel Aviv, he has found a great circle of peers driven by excellence and committed to making a difference. “This is a very healthy environment for me,” he says. “I’m writing about people who have been dead for thousands of years, but I’m surrounded by people with such passion for things that are afflicting the world today. People come here to help refugees, teach English, and work in conflict resolution. Working amid that energy is just incredible.” In his free time, Andrew ventures beyond the city, traveling to other parts of Israel as well as Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia.

Andrew Califf standing in a rock crevice

Photo of Andrew Califf by Rishi Dhir

When he’s not out exploring, Andrew relies on interviews to connect to those out in the field he hopes to join someday. “Archaeologists and anthropologists have time for you, and they love talking about what they’ve found,” Andrew says. At the same time, he uses his journalistic skills to zero in on unique findings, to make his work stand out from other publications covering the same story like CNN and National Geographic. “Being able to tell good stories while conducting good fieldwork is so important,” Andrew emphasizes. “If you go out and discover incredible places and incredible artifacts, you shouldn’t hide that in a boring abstract and a boring background with hundreds of footnotes. The combination of work I’m pursuing—it feels like I’m doing what I’ve always been called to do.”

Thinking about the future, Andrew has his sights set on an internship with National Geographic. He also hopes to do fieldwork in Mongolia, another step on his path toward specializing in journalism and archaeology in remote areas. He’s excited for his upcoming senior year and wants to pursue honors in both anthropology and journalism.

Written by Sarah Bender