MCAA Avenue

Another day closer to Threesis 2018 – check out our finalists on stage from 2013! Who will make it to this year’s Final Round?! Join us next weekend and find out – http://bit.ly/threesisrsvp2018.

The Threesis 2018 countdown continues with a look back at our 2012 finalists. 7 days to go until this year’s Final Round on 4/14, RSVP at http://bit.ly/threesisrsvp2018.

We are officially counting down the days until #Threesis2018! To kick things off, we’re diving into the archives to admire our first-ever Threesis finalists from 2011…excited to see who will rock the stage this year! Be sure to RSVP for the big event on 4/14 and be part of this Master’s College tradition!

http://bit.ly/threesisrsvp2018

Save the date for the Eighth Annual GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge! Join the Master’s College Alumni Association on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at NYU Kimmel Center (60 Washington Square South) for one of the most exciting GSAS events of the year. 

The Threesis is a vehicle to showcase the academic excellence and important scholarly work of GSAS master’s students. Each participant has three minutes to present a compelling oration on the significance of their research in language appropriate for a non-specialized audience. Past participants have shared that Threesis helped them not only refine their research, but also build the presentation skills, public speaking skills, and confidence to perform successfully in job interviews and doctoral programs alike. 

Join the MCAA on April 14 to see this year’s twelve finalists, hear their incredible presentations, and vote for your favorite to help determine the winner of the Audience Choice award ($750), which is sponsored by the MCAA. 

We look forward to seeing you!

Earlier this fall, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Master’s College. We had the great pleasure of marking this milestone with our founder, GSAS Dean Emeritus Catherine R. Stimpson, along with GSAS alumni and friends. 

As a token of our gratitude, we presented Dean Kate (as she is affectionately known at the Master’s College) with a book collection of quotes from master’s alumni throughout the last decade about what the Master’s College meant to them. Master’s alumni shared their experiences as former students and how the Master’s College has impacted their lives after GSAS. Dean Kate was, in a word, moved.  

And so were we. Needless to say, these quotes are genuine testimonials of the dynamic and incredible community at the Master’s College. You can read the quotes below, and always go back to them on the 10th Anniversary Gift page, right here on MCAA Avenue. 

Special thanks to MCAA members who sent in their quotes, we could not have done this without you!

You can see photos from the 2018 MCAA Alumni Day Gathering here.

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“The Master’s College was a way for me to further my education while connecting with people. Serving on the Program Board and later becoming an MCAA officer provided so many opportunities for me to make meaningful connections and help others connect as well. I was not expecting such an enriching experience when I chose to attend GSAS, but I’m often reminded just how much the Psychology program and the entire Master’s College have affected my life.”

— Alexandra (Psychology, ’13)

“The Master’s College Program Board and Alumni Association really improved my experience at NYU, and in the city in general. The Master’s College humanizes a city that otherwise makes anonymity easy.”

— Andrew (Politics, ’16)

“The Master’s College has been a nurturing community of educated minds, a utopia, I would say, where I felt like I belonged. My two years of being a part of the Master’s College were the best two years of my life!”

— Apoorva (Computer Science, ’11)

“I came from a little bitty town to a big ol’ city, and the Master’s College and Program Board welcomed me with open arms and a tight embrace. It’s where I first felt community in New York City, it introduced me to some of my lifelong friends, it made me feel like I was a valuable member of a university that, because of its size, can sometimes make you feel very small. It led me to find my passion that I never knew would be my passion: higher education. Peppered with some of the most welcoming, smiling faces, the Master’s College has made NYU feel like home, and it will be part of my forever family.”

— Bailey (English, ’17)

“For me, the Master’s College was a community where I finally felt I could be who I wanted to be, and be accepted for that, academically and personally.”

— Betsy (International Relations, ’15)

“My master’s courses gave me a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the world around me. They also equipped me with the analytical skills and insights that are valuable in my career.  I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today without the program.”

— Brandon (Economics, ’08)

“The Master’s College has given me an opportunity to be a part of a dynamic community filled with innovators, scholars, and passionate individuals who strive to make a positive impact on society. I’m grateful for the friendships I’ve built and the experiences I’ve had, which I will forever treasure.”

— Calvin (Math in Finance, ’13)

“What the Master’s College meant to me as a graduate student was the very meaning of community, where the transient sense of a part belongs to the permanent whole of being and belonging.”

— Chacko (Politics, ’12)

“I’m so happy to be part of the MCAA, for the camaraderie with other alumni and opportunity to meet great people, for exposure to current master’s students and their activity and achievements, and for staying connected with the greater NYU community. I’m still learning and growing, thank you!”

— Cyndie (Liberal Studies, ’99)

“For me, the Master’s College is the gift that keeps on giving. I first encountered it as a master’s student competing in the Threesis Academic Challenge, and then joined the MCAA when I graduated. I founded our first alumni newsletter, which has now transformed into a blog that celebrates alumni achievements and spotlights successes in the community. I can’t believe that I work at the Master’s College now, and have the opportunity to carry on the torch after all these years.”

— Danielle (English, ’13)

“The Master’s College Program Board was my favorite organization that I participated in during my time at NYU. I felt a sense of community and belonging that can be hard to come by in a city as vast and harried as New York. When I look back on my time at GSAS, I am always grateful to have had that welcoming experience through the Master’s College.”

— Doris (Psychology, ’14)

“The Master’s College was a welcoming place to meet GSAS master’s students beyond my AQR program. It helped to know that there was a fun activity that I could enjoy with fellow students. I joined the MCAA after I finished my master’s program, which allowed me to get more involved in hosting alumni events while also networking with really great, smart, and well-connected people from all GSAS disciplines. The Master’s College and MCAA are well-organized, well-led programs that both master’s students and alumni should be a part of.”

— Emma (Applied Quantitative Research, ’14)

“It’s been six years since I walked across the stage at my graduation and it’s still one of my fondest NYC memories. I stood in line for my degree with three of my now life-long friends, who I never would’ve known without the Master’s College Program Board. Most people ask their department chair or thesis advisor to hood them, but there was only one person who deserved that honor in my life: while I was working full-time and taking courses, David Giovanella brought me into a group of amazing students. I was the inaugural President of Program Board, which would have been nothing without my fellow officers. More than any other part of my experience, the Master’s College gave me my NYU family. “

— Erica (Politics, ’11)

“The Master’s College was my first community when I moved to New York City. It felt like home in a crazy, huge city to a girl from a small Midwestern town. Even as an alumna, it always feels like a cozy homecoming to go downtown to the NYU campus for a Master’s College Alumni Association event.”

— Haley (European and Mediterranean Studies, ’10)

“Before I came to the Master’s College, I wasn’t sure if academia was the place for me. I always loved to read, write, and think critically, but I was intimidated by the ‘Ivory Tower.’ Once I came to GSAS, I met colleagues and mentors who were willing to demystify this world, and help me find my place within it. Now, I get to read, write, and think critically for a living, knowing that this community will always have my back, as I will theirs!” 

— Hannah (French Studies, ’15)

“The Master’s College has always meant such a great deal to me. I vividly remember meeting Dean Kate at an event she threw for master’s students. She was so warmly interested in my work, which I myself barely understood, that I forgot to be intimidated. Last semester, I taught her celebrated essay “Black Culture/White Teacher” in a Black Women Writers class at Queens College. (She was one of the few white writers I assigned.) My students engaged deeply with how she held white women, in particular, to task. As a scholar and a teacher who is deeply invested in helping dismantle white supremacy, having read and taught Dean Kate’s contribution to the conversation still helps me navigate the necessary humility and ability to listen. As an inaugural member of the Program Board, and its first Hilarie, I met so many cherished folks. David and Suzanne, you have been so supportive of everything I’ve done, and your warmth and laughter have always offered such a glow. I think we all know that there wouldn’t be a Master’s College without you.”

— Hilarie (Draper, ’11)

“The Master’s College taught me that I was limitless in creating impact for the community of master’s students in GSAS. Thinking back on my time at NYU,  I am tremendously proud to have contributed to creating a better experience for my fellow classmates through leadership efforts in the Master’s College.  It is an opportunity that could have not happened without the Master’s College and its admirable staff and leaders.”

— Iynna (International Relations, ’15)

“My experience with the Master’s College was one that I will never forget. It gave me valuable skills to success at work and in life.”

— Jeet (Computer Science, ’16)

“To me, the Masters College is synonymous with being offered an opportunity to come to New York City and thrive. Beyond the educational experience, the connections I have fostered in my 7 years in the city have carried beyond my time in the lecture halls. The Masters College is continuing to develop networks for both present and past students, namely the Program Board as well as the MCAA Leadership Board, and I hope to be able to continue helping these programs and initiatives grow with each incoming wave of new arrivals.”

— Katie (Politics, ’12)

“The Master’s College is an amazing and unique organization within NYU that allowed me to connect with and forge life-long bonds with other students and faculty that would otherwise not have been available. It truly is a special community that caters to master’s students, and I am eternally grateful for having been a recipient of all the services and support that the Master’s College offered. Thank you for building such a great organization and making the students’ time at NYU and GSAS that much more meaningful and eventful.”

— Kin (Computer Science, ’13)

“The Master’s College provided me with some of the best experiences and memories during my two years at NYU. I had an amazing time with the Program Board, met some of the most interesting people, made good friends, and got involved in a lot of events. This experience made me a more sociable and enthusiastic person. I am grateful to the Master’s College for giving me this opportunity, and for all its help and support throughout my time in GSAS. Congratulations on the 10th Anniversary!”

— Krishna (Information Systems, ’17)

“Over the years, the Master’s College has come to feel like a second home to me. I’ve been fortunate to meet many people from all walks of life through my studies and involvement in the Program Board, which couldn’t have happened without the Master’s College. I’m very thankful to be a part of this community and I hope that future students will be able to call it home too.”

— Mai (Psychology, ’15)

“The Master’s College has opened my mind and heart to new people with different points of view. I’ve grown confident in myself and my abilities, because I know I received an exceptional education from the Master’s College community both in and out of the academic setting. Beyond that, I have never felt so truly supported and uplifted by a group of strangers.”

— Molly (Journalism, ’14)

“To me, the Master’s College gave me a circle of friends and fun, and valuable work and life contacts!”

— Nawsheen (French Studies, ’16)

“My experience with the Master’s College was pivotal in my life. It gave me an outlook that I never would have had otherwise, seeing the world from ‘our’ perspective rather than just ‘my’ perspective. I find myself happy, successful, and well-connected today because of that perspective. Cheers to 10 years of the Master’s College!”

— Nishant (Information Systems, ’16)

“My favorite moments and most rewarding relationships at NYU can be directly linked to joining the Master’s College Program Board. The intellectual and social diversity at Program Board activities and events fashioned my growth as a student. On a more personal note, thanks to the Program Board, I learned that the quickest way to feel connected to a community is to serve it. If all of this smacks hyperbolic, it would only approximate the height of my regard for the Master’s College. Thank you!”

— Rodney (Politics, ’13)

“I had a great experience during my time at GSAS. The professors were all well established in their fields and we had amazing opportunities to visit museums and meet other professionals.”

— Sarah (Museum Studies, ’16)

“As a member of the Master’s College Program Board, my experience at NYU can be described as being surrounded by faculty members who encouraged students to strive for academic excellence, while also developing lifelong friendships and having countless adventures together in the concrete jungle. I am enjoying and looking forward to the continued development of relationships within the Master’s College Alumni Association!”

— Sneha (Psychology, ’12)

“The Master’s College offered me the unique privilege of building a cutting edge, student-driven engagement and leadership program on the higher education landscape. I am continually inspired by the leadership and innovation demonstrated by both students and alumni through the Master’s College. The inclusivity, deep friendships, trans-disciplinary connections, and incredible diversity of students and alumni who find connection through the Master’s College is both uplifting and contagious. As a student, and a member of the alumni community, I feel grateful to always have a home with the Master’s College. Thank you Kate for creating this vehicle for engagement and offering me the opportunity to carry your vision forward. Happy 10th Anniversary, I’m looking forward to seeing what the next ten years brings for the Master’s College community.”

— Suzanne (Social and Cultural Analysis, ’12)

“I moved to New York City for graduate school. The Master’s College not only helped move me forward in my career, but also gave me a network and family that supported me along the way.”

— Zac (Applied Quantitative Reasoning, ’14)

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We are eternally grateful to Dean Kate for founding the Master’s College, and for each of you who make it the special community that it is. From current students to alumni, the Master’s College is what it is thanks to you. 

You can always share your Master’s College experiences with us by emailing gsas.mastersalumni@nyu.edu.
And you can share your success stories with the MCAA by completing this form.

Detachment 560 Thunderbirds Color Guard from Manhattan College at the unveiling of a plaque honoring NYU Veterans.

 

In observance of Veterans Day, we would like to take a moment to thank students in the military and veterans within the GSAS Master’s College community. This week, NYU has celebrated their service through the annual NYU Veteran and Military Appreciation Week, November 7-11, 2017. For the last few days, the NYU community at large has gathered for a variety of commemorative events, including an appreciation kick-off, symposiums, trainings, and more. The Appreciation Week culminates in the Annual NYU Veterans Day Breakfast and Parade tomorrow:

Saturday, November 11, 2017
9:30am
Military Alliance Community Center
Kimmel Center for University Life
60 Washington Square South, 7th Floor

All Veteran and Military-Connected faculty, staff, students, partners, and family are welcome to join the breakfast before the march in the NYU Veteran Day Parade. All parade attendees will receive a free t-shirt. Parade and NYU Trolley line-up will begin at 11:30am. RSVP is required. 

Thank you again to the students in the military and veterans for their service, time, and dedication. We are grateful to have such exceptional students and alumni who share their excellence with the Master’s College community, and the NYU community at large.