Global Dimensions

News and notes from across NYU's Campuses and Sites

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

Posted on , modified on by Kristin Law

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

Posted on , modified on by Kristin Law

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

Posted on , modified on by Kristin Law

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

NYU Sydney Finds a New Home and a Trusted Partner at University of Sydney

Posted on , modified on by Katie L

A student walks into a building with a larger University of Sydney sign

Come July, NYU Sydney will welcome its first cohort of study away students to its new home at the University of Sydney (USYD), one of Australia’s leading universities. NYU and USYD recently signed a new partnership agreement, which will give students from both universities the opportunity to share courses, live together, and participate in a reciprocal exchange program.

“We’re excited to join the academic community at the University of Sydney and work together to explore future opportunities for collaboration,” says Megan Carrigy, NYU Sydney associate director for academic programs. “The suspension of our site during COVID-19 created space to review our program and reflect on where we might take it in the future. This new partnership, and our move to the University of Sydney campus, offers us an unprecedented opportunity to deepen our connections with the local academic community.”

Coming Together for a Historic Partnership

When NYU made the decision to relocate its campus in The Rocks precinct of Sydney, they sought opportunity. By partnering with an Australian university, NYU students could engage with Australia’s vibrant university culture while “also retaining the programming, curriculum, and community that has made the NYU Sydney program so successful to date,” explains Carrigy. USYD, with more than 400 areas of study and a reputation as one of the world’s top-rated universities, seemed like an ideal partner.

During a virtual ceremony, the USYD vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Mark Scott; NYU’s president, Professor Andrew Hamilton; and NYU’s vice-chancellor and senior vice provost for global programs and university life, Professor Linda Mills, signed an agreement to finalize the partnership. “This new partnership between two of the world’s leading universities opens up a wealth of extraordinary opportunities for collaboration across teaching, research, and industry engagement,” said Professor Scott at the time. “As the world begins to open up after the COVID-19 crisis, we’re thrilled to be offering students an immersive international experience.”

A Distinctly Australian Experience

University of Sydney's Great Hall from above

The Great Hall at the University of Sydney

Now NYU Sydney students will have access to everything that USYD’s Camperdown/Darlington campus has to offer. Founded in 1850, the campus is USYD’s largest and oldest, known for its stunning old-world architecture and rich history. The Great Hall, inspired by London’s Westminster Abbey, is the centerpiece of the campus’ world-famous quadrangle. Over the years, it’s hosted hundreds of events, from graduation ceremonies to grand banquets. Other notable facilities include six libraries, four art galleries, and the new Chau Chak Wing Museum.

“One of the reasons I wanted to go to NYU in the first place was because of their outstanding study abroad programs. When I heard that Australia was allowing travelers again after the pandemic began, I immediately knew I had to take this opportunity,” explains Serena Lau, a Global Public Health/Nutrition and Dietetics major. “The University of Sydney campus location looks beautiful, and I’ll be within walking distance of the water. The culture and the people seem amazing, and I cannot wait to see everything in person—minus the spiders!”

New Opportunities for Education and Collaboration

As part of the agreement, NYU students can take selected USYD courses alongside local students, while USYD students can enroll in classes taught by NYU Sydney faculty members. Additionally, USYD students will have the opportunity to study at NYU’s campus in New York City or one of its additional global locations. “This innovative model aligns with the University of Sydney’s strategic goal to provide more international experiences for traditionally underrepresented student cohorts, such as low-socioeconomic-status, first-in-family, and Indigenous student populations,” adds Bonnington. Furthermore, all NYU Sydney students will enroll in a USYD Industry and Community Projects Unit, which offers them the singular opportunity to partner with leading corporate, government, and community organizations to craft innovative solutions to real-world problems.

In the years ahead, both students and faculty members will benefit from the partnership. USYD faculty will have the opportunity to come to New York City as visiting scholars while NYU faculty can conduct research at USYD. “Both NYU and the University of Sydney intend for this to be a starting point for a much greater level of collaboration between our institutions, including joint research, co-teaching, industry engagement, and much more,” explains Bonnington. “There’s a lot we can learn from each other, so this is really just the start of our collaborations. The sky’s the limit!”

Written by Dana Guterman

United for Ukraine

Posted on , modified on by Kristin Law

By Leah Gaffen, Special Project Manager, NYU Prague

NYU Prague students get involved in local aid efforts

As the war rages in Ukraine, Czechs feel a strong sense of solidarity with their Slavic neighbors. The Czech Republic has received over 250,000 refugees since the war began, and the refugees have been generously welcomed here. There are piles of flowers and collections of candles supporting Ukraine on Wenceslas Square—the very place where Russian tanks fired on buildings in 1968 and Czechs gathered to overthrow the Communist government in 1989—and in recent weeks, tens of thousands of Czechs have gathered there to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine.

Many NYU Prague students joined these efforts by making financial donations to local organizations or contributing canned food, hygienic goods, and other supplies to campus collections. Several even decided to get more involved. Below are some of the initiatives students have participated in so far.

Assembling Protective Gear

Putting together bulletproof vests was not a skill any NYU student expected to pick up during their semester abroad. But that is exactly what many NYU Prague students have learned to do as they support the efforts of Post Bellum, a nonprofit organization that has raised over $5 million to supply protective equipment for soldiers in Ukraine. Enlisting the help of volunteers is the fastest way for the Prague-based organization to assemble and transport bulletproof vests.

NYU Prague students joined the first volunteer brigade last Tuesday, which took place at the Czech Senate. Olivia Puntenney, a sophomore prehealth student majoring in Instrumental Performance, was one of them. “We arrived at the Czech Senate, where a room was set aside for us. Then the iron plates that go into the vests arrived in a truck, and we formed an assembly line to get them inside,” she says. The leaders and volunteers figured out how to put the protective material inside the vests, including the heavy metal plates, making a material “sandwich.” The vests, which weigh over 22 pounds when completed, can protect someone from the most common weapons used by the Russian army.

Since then, the organizers moved to a warehouse in the Prague suburbs that can accommodate more volunteers. However, NYU Prague students, along with students from other local universities and high schools, continue to participate. Within the first week, Post Bellum took truckloads of over 2,000 vests to the border. They plan to send at least 10,000 more, and the volunteer brigades will continue.

“It was such a strong experience. And so humbling as we spoke to volunteers whose families were in Ukraine,” says Olivia. “It felt good to be able to donate our time and do as much as we could.”

Students for Ukraine Livestream

On March 3, NYU Prague students rolled out of bed at 4:30 a.m. (CET) and onto the tram. Their destination? The National Theatre, where they were part of a 72-hour nonstop livestream organized by Students for Ukraine, a Prague-wide network launched by local Prague Academy of Performing Arts university students. They galvanized students, artists, activists, Czech TV film crews, and the National Theatre’s production department to raise awareness and money through this livestream, entitled Wake Up for Ukraine.

Olivia, a violaist who organized Music For Change concerts when she was in high school, knew she had to be a part of this event. She recruited several other students who weren’t afraid of performing in front of a camera—or setting their alarm clocks early enough for the 6:15 a.m. (CET) call time.

A group of students smiling

NYU Prague students in front of the Czech Senate on the first day of the volunteer brigade

Undergraduate Mason Bleu stayed up most of the night before writing a poem titled “We Ask,” which he performed during the livestream. Hannah Butts and Sasha Jones, both part of NYU’s ballet company for nonmajors, dusted off their dance shoes and debated whether or not it was appropriate to perform to Russian music.

“Because we arrived so early in the morning it was so cold, but the organizers greeted us with coffee and tea. It was so professionally run, with incredible cameras. I was amazed students had put this together in two days,” says Olivia. The NYU Prague students joined dozens of other students and artists who expressed their horror at the violence in Ukraine through singing, concerts, live painting, dance, discussion, experimental theatre, and more. The goal was to bring people together to express support for Ukraine in the midst of Russian aggression while raising money for the humanitarian organization People in Need.

Below is Mason’s original poem, “We Ask,” which he performed at Wake Up for Ukraine.

We Ask
By Mason Bleu

we ask
for peace and love spread through the clouds
instead of smoke from fighting making ears ring loud
when times are hard and there’s no redress
                                      (and even in this time of stress)
we ask for peace and quiet to lay youth to rest
from broken trust that can’t be mend
solidarity placed in neighbors who disguised themselves as friends
we ask for pain to be relieved
battlefields turned into trees
for life is lost in times of war
where protectors pass for the lives of more
we ask that life return to those lost in fight
through memory we ask to always keep their light
their hearts so pure intentions right
the goal of freedom always in sight
we ask that things can change tonight
and for freedom we ask; it is your right
Ukraine with you we’ll always stand
with you we rise and take a chance
with you we fight hand in hand
we ask that they get off your land.

NYU London Professor Valerie Wells Published in Cancer Gene Therapy

Posted on by Katie L

βGBP cytokine, a naturally occurring molecule in the human body, has the ability to induce cell death in cancer cells, finds a new study from NYU London professor Valerie Wells and King’s College London professor Livio Mallucci. Published in Cancer Gene Therapy, their coauthored paper on the mechanisms of cell signaling and gene expression reports that the molecule can regulate cell proliferation by either controlling an intrinsic S phase (DNA replication) checkpoint in normal cells or inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. Their findings provide a rationale for understanding how a process that naturally controls cell proliferation has extended anticancer potentials.

Collaboration with King’s College London

According to Wells, her research has progressed over many years while working with Professor Mallucci and the King’s College London Cell Signalling and Growth Laboratory. Their recent paper is an extension of previous work, including their 2019 publication in the British Journal of Cancer, where they report that the βGBP cytokine is a “physiological inducer of procedures that lead to immunogenic cell death.” Unlike chemotherapy treatments, which carry associated toxicity, Wells and her team showed that the βGBP cytokine is a safe immune molecule that acts as a tumor suppressor with the potential for long-term protection against cancer. This paper provides “direct experimental evidence for a rationale to explore the potential of a strategy based on the use of a natural immunomolecule with no innate toxicity.”

Professor Valerie Wells, a Brief Biography

Valerie Wells

Professor Valerie Wells

Professor Valerie Wells is a research scientist and lecturer at NYU London who studies the operation of signaling pathways in different cell types. After the βGBP cytokine was found to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells, Wells continued her research by investigating the molecular signaling pathways the βGBP cytokine controls to regulate the normal cell cycle and cause programmed cell death and immunogenic cell death in tumor cells.

During her time at NYU, Wells has fused her passion for research and teaching into one meaningful career. “The combination of research and teaching is both enjoyable and valuable,” she says. “NYU students’ commitment to their studies, their ideas, and their discussions and their interest in relating their studies to the wider context provide an interesting and stimulating atmosphere for the teaching aspect of my career.”

To read the full paper by Wells and Mallucci, titled “Intrinsic S phase checkpoint enforced by an antiproliferative oncosuppressor cytokine,” visit Cancer Gene Therapy. To read their 2019 paper, titled “Sourcing the immune system to induce immunogenic cell death in Kras-colorectal cancer cells,” visit the British Journal of Cancer.

Written by Samantha Jamison

Staff Spotlight: Marian Ansa-Otu, Programs Manager of Student Services, NYU Accra

Posted on by Katie L
Portrait of Marian Ansa-Otu

Marian Ansa-Otu, Programs Manager of Student Services, NYU Accra

Students traveling to NYU Accra might not always know what to expect when studying abroad in one of the largest cities in Ghana. Once they get there, however, staff members like Marian Ansa-Otu are available to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

For more than a decade, Marian Ansa-Otu, the programs manager of Student Services at NYU Accra, along with her staff, has made students’ experiences her top priority. “We manage and assist with all aspects of student life, including orientation, cultural programming, health and wellness, and community engagement,” says Ansa-Otu. In fact, she says, Student Services at NYU Accra operates with an open-door policy. “Students can call, text, email, or walk into our offices to share their concerns with us and we will go to great lengths to find solutions.” What’s more, each student has two mandatory meetings per semester with Student Services, so they have ample opportunity to discuss their experiences, successes, and challenges, get assistance, and learn about upcoming events.

Student immersion in the Ghanaian culture is another prime directive of Ansa-Otu and her staff. “Our office collaborates with the academic and other support units to plan, develop, and coordinate programs that help ensure successful cultural adjustment into the Ghanaian environment.” To that end, the staff sponsors workshops, lectures, field trips, and special excursions that correlate with traditions like Career Week, Ally Week, and Cultural Diversity Day. “Planning cultural activities that students can actively participate in helps them learn more about their new environment and culture while adjusting at their own rate and level of comfort,” says Ansa-Otu.

Additional benefits Student Services provides include welcome lunches, farewell dinners, city tours, meditation/reflection rooms, and day and overnight trips to tour different parts of the country.

Ansa-Otu says there is myriad proof that Student Services at NYU Accra is having a transformative effect on students. “Sometimes you see students who change significantly from the start of the semester to the end, evolving into more reflective and engaged students,” Ansa-Otu says. “We even had one student say that coming to this center helped her better understand not only herself but also the world. She said that she felt empowered by her education and left feeling like a new, stronger person.”

Content repurposed with permission from NYU Global Notebook