Author Archive for Kaitlyn Wells – Page 18

ASD 2016 in photos

April 5 marked another Admitted Students’ Day at SIPA. While the morning was unseasonably chilly, the sun was still shining and everyone had an enjoyable day connecting with members of the SIPA community. The event began with a fireside chat with IMAC Director Anya Schiffrin and University Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz. Later in the afternoon, students shared a meal with current Seeples and professors and discussed their excitement (and possibly reservations) about attending graduate school. Afterward, students embarked on a campus tour before making their way over to the International Affairs Building for some afternoon breakout sessions and student and alumni panels. The day concluded with an evening reception, live jazz band and raffle prizes. Oh, and did I mention there was even a photo booth? Take a look at a few of the snapshots below, then visit our Facebook Page to review even more moments from the day!

Grace Han, Executive Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, welcomes everyone to ASD 2016. The map behind her shows where all of the admitted students are coming from.

Anya Schiffrin and Joseph E. Stiglitz discuss inequality, the media and U.S. elections over a fireside chat.

Our current Seeples greet admitted students to ASD throughout the day.

Where else could you eat lunch and pick the brain of Gender and Public Policy Director Yasmine Ergas (left)? ASD, that’s where!

Seeple Affan Javed shares his experiences during the current student panel.

Associate Professor Christopher Blattman gives a brief faculty lecture on field study and policy design before kicking off the evening reception.

Students spend part of the evening declaring their "Seepleness" with a few funny photos.

Students spend part of the evening declaring their “Seepleness” with a few funny photos.

Ruth DeFries and Jeffrey Sachs Named University Professors

Great news! SIPA’s Director of the Earth Institute, Jeffrey D. Sachs, and his colleague Ruth DeFriesh have been named University Professors, the highest rank our faculty can receive. You can read the complete announcement from Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger below.

Dear fellow members of the Columbia community:

I am pleased to announce my appointments of Ruth DeFries and Jeffrey Sachs as our newest University Professors, the highest rank Columbia bestows on its faculty.  It is fitting that Professors DeFries and Sachs receive this honor in tandem, as they are two of the world’s foremost scholars investigating how to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.  As is always true, but especially so here, by recognizing their many contributions through this honor, we also strengthen their, and our, capacity to serve the entire Columbia community and the world.

Professor DeFries is Denning Family Professor of Sustainable Development and Co-director of the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development at Columbia’s Earth Institute.  Her scholarship is committed to nothing less than understanding the changes experienced by the planet over the course of human existence.  Professor DeFries’s institutional leadership led to the creation of several innovative Earth Institute programs, and her public advocacy is responsible for advances around the world concerning climate change, food and water insecurity, and nature conservation.  She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2006 and the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2008.  In 2007, Professor DeFries received a Fulbright Award for Research in India and a MacArthur Fellowship.

Professor Sachs, Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development and Professor of Health Policy and Management, is a peerless economist who has dedicated his life to building a sustainable future and reducing global poverty.  He came to Columbia in 2002 to serve as Director of the Earth Institute.  Under his leadership, the Institute became the world’s premier institution for research, teaching, and public outreach regarding earth sciences and sustainable development.  As the longtime Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General, Professor Sachs oversaw the adoption and implementation of the Millennium Development Goals as well as the Sustainable Development Goals agreed to last year.  He is Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, which convenes at Columbia and at our Global Center in Europe, under the auspices of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

I know we all join in congratulating Professor Ruth DeFries and Professor Jeffrey Sachs on their many achievements and on becoming Columbia’s newest University Professors.

Sincerely,

Lee C. Bollinger

Live Coverage: 19th Annual David N. Dinkins Leadership & Public Policy Forum

The 19th Annual David N. Dinkins Leadership & Public Policy Forum is taking place today at Columbia University’s Alfred Lerner Hall. The yearly gathering continues to serve as an important vehicle for discussing major urban policy issues. Today’s event features The Honorable Loretta E. Lynch83rd Attorney General of the United States, who will be presenting a keynote address on 21st Century Policing and Criminal Justice Reform. Throughout the morning we’ll be posting tweets from the event. So check back regularly to see what’s going on, or watch it live through the livestream video below.

 

That’s it! We hope you enjoyed following along with us today during the forum.

10 reasons you shouldn’t attend SIPA

Are you on the fence about joining SIPA in the fall? This list should make it easier for you to decide.

1. THE CAMPUS IS A REAL EYESORE

aprilfools-campus
Seriously. Don’t even bother taking a campus tour. The grass is lush and beautiful for half of the year, then it’s blanketed in the fluffiest white snow you only thought you could find in your Winter Wonderland dreams.

2. THE CLASSES ARE SMALL

aprilfools-classroom

It’s graduate school. How are you ever going to learn anything if you’re in a classroom with just a dozen other students? Better yet, how can you take a nap in the back of the room without getting noticed? Sadly, you can’t do that at SIPA. THIS is what your average classroom looks like.

3. THE CLASSES ARE ALSO B – O – R – I – N – G

aprilfools-dayattheUN

In addition to being stuck in a classroom with less students, you’re also not going to enjoy any of the classes you take next year. For example, the United Nations Studies specialization offers “A Day at the United Nations: A View from the Inside.” Students spend at least two days accompanying UN staffers to work at headquarters. Then our Seeples and their UN hosts (pictured above) share what the experience was like in a panel presentation at SIPA. Last year, speakers included Claudia Banz (third from right), a senior political affairs officer at United Nations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Jo Scheuer (second from left), the Director of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction with the UNDP. What a snooze fest.

4. THERE’S NEVER ANYTHING TO DO IN THIS PLACE

aprilfools-flyers

This is what the average hallway looks like at SIPA. It’s plastered in flyers for social receptions, student organization meetings, and random events on and off campus. Among the 42 SIPA student groups, they host 12-15 events each week. With so many choices, it’s no wonder students can’t make time to attend the events and are left with nothing to do except explore the Big Apple.

5. AND THEY KEEP YOU TRAPPED ON THE GROUNDS

aprilfools-Molly-Powers---Uganda-11

At SIPA, “on the grounds” can mean anything from taking a class in a Columbia University classroom to being forced onto a plane halfway around the world just to help bring an end to extreme poverty. That’s what Molly Powers, MPA-DP 2012, had to do as part of her Summer Field Placement when she interned with the Millennium Villages Project. It’s obvious by the photo she didn’t volunteer for the gig.

6. THE PROFESSORS ARE MEH

aprilfools-faculty

SIPA has more than 70 full-time faculty members and 200 adjunct faculty, professional practitioners and visiting scholars on staff. With so many experts to learn from, you’re hard pressed to find anyone who’s notable among the bunch. (Remember the saying about quality vs quantity?) David Dinkins is the former mayor of the City of New York; Claudia Dreifus writes “Conversation with…” in the New York Times’Tuesday science section; Paola Valenti consulted with World Bank’s Human Development Network and Social Protection Group; and Jason Bordoff joined SIPA after serving as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Energy and Climate Change on the Staff of the National Security Council for four years. Sorry, but that’s not an all-star lineup.

7. YOU’LL NEVER MAKE ANY FRIENDS

 

aprilfools-friends-jumpingLast month, these three spent their Spring Break in Peru as part of their second-year capstone project. There’s nothing more awkward than spending time with other Seeples in a foreign country and then asking them to pose with you and pretend like you’re all actually having a good time…while jumping near the ledge of a cliff. You’re bound to fear for your safety, thinking that at any moment one of these two will push you over the edge—literally. With thoughts like those racing through your mind, can you ever really become friends? (Note: At the request of a student, a previous entry featuring students at the Dead Sea has been removed.)

8. YOU WON’T FIND A *STELLAR* JOB AFTER GRADUATE SCHOOL

aprilfools-sipabanner

Last year, our graduating Seeples worked in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. But they were working for some less-than desirable organizations. Brookings Institution, Clinton Foundation, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Kofi Annan Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the United Nations Development Program were just a few of the terrible places our graduates ended up. Clearly, all of your hard work and the SIPA brand don’t get you anywhere these days.

9. THERE’S NOTHING WORSE THAN A SEA OF COLUMBIA BLUE

aprilfools-graduation

There are shades of blue everywhere you turn on campus. From Admitted Students’ Day and orientation week to sporting events and graduation. Blue, blue, blue, blue, blue. What kind of school has this much pride for a cool color palette?

10. SORRY, BUT IT’S JUST NOT WORTH IT LISTING ANOTHER REASON…

I warned you there were reasons you shouldn’t attend SIPA this fall. But don’t take my word for it. Confirm your enrollment today so you can see things for yourself.

Why we’ve been quiet lately

While reading this you are probably reminded that you haven’t heard from me in a couple of weeks. I apologize for the radio silence. There have been some technical glitches with the blog, and I have been working to resolve them. Over the next few weeks, I plan to get the Admissions Blog back on track; that means you’ll start to see posts from our Program Assistants again! They’ll share information about their capstone experiences, reflect on their winter breaks and recent student events, and even tell you where to find the best brunch places in the city.

Until then, be sure you visit the Admissions Blog’s homepage on Friday to read a very special post!

"The most global public policy school, where an international community of students and faculty address world challenges."

—Merit E. Janow, Dean, SIPA, Professor of Practice, International and Economic Law and International Affairs

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