NYU Arts and Science Alumni Blog

It's safe to say that new digital media has altered the way we react to social issues. From Occupy Wall Street marches organized on Twitter and Facebook to the digitized SOPA and PIPA petitioning, social media has had a definite effect on how we protest. However, is this change for the better or for the worse?

Clay Shirky is an NYU professor of new media at Tisch and the Arts & Science Journalism Institute, and he is considered an expert on the affects of emerging digital media technologies on society and the economy.

On Monday this week, Professor Shirky was featured by National Public Radio speaking on how social media allows current events to be shared much more rapidly than traditional media. Shirky explains that such sharing initiates quick emotional responses that often cause the social media world to either bolster or denounce a given news item. And although online communication can quickly generate interest in a given topic, digital supporters of an issue are typically not as committed as traditional activists.

Take a look at the points raised by Professor Shirky and NPR's Audie Cornish in the interview below. (Or listen to the interview here.) And be sure to let us know what you think: Is social media good or bad for social change? Post a comment!

CORNISH: We've heard plenty about the role that Facebook in particular has played in the Arab Spring uprising. But over the past few months, social media have also led to a very different kind of revolution here at home. Late last year, a social media-fueled backlash forced Bank of America and Verizon both to drop proposed fees.

Last month, Congress found itself similarly flooded with complaints and reversed course on a pair of anti-piracy bills. Then, just last week, it was the breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure backing off plans to cut funding to Planned Parenthood.

For more on what this all means, we're joined by Clay Shirky. He's a professor of New Media at New York University. Welcome, Clay.

CLAY SHIRKY: Thanks so much, Audie. Thanks for having me.

CORNISH: So, has social networking really made a difference or is it just ramping up the speed of things?

SHIRKY: Well, I think that those questions can't be asked in that way because faster is different. If you look back at, say, what Kate Hanni did with the Flyers Bill of Rights starting in 2006. She was the woman who was stuck on the tarmac for eight hours. Got enraged, started a political movement using, in the day, blogs and email to pressure Congress to alter their policy. That took her years to do that.

And you look at the Susan Komen thing and that took something like 48 hours to get them to reverse course on a fairly major decision. So, faster protests are different kinds of protests, in part because our emotions work much faster than our intellect. So, when you get people angry quickly, things can spread like wildfire, in a way that they can't on slower media.

CORNISH: Looking at the issues that we brought up - the Komen issue, Verizon, Bank of America...

SHIRKY: BoA.

CORNISH: Yeah, even the SOPA protest about anti-piracy bills. These issues are so different, but what is the common denominator in how those protests caught on?

SHIRKY: The common denominator is that the public has a medium in which they can synchronize real action on an issue, without requiring everybody to be activists in some kind of general ongoing way.

CORNISH: Which must be huge. I mean, if you think about standing on the street and trying to gather signatures for a petition. That's a lot less fun than just asking someone to post such and such a thing on their Facebook.

SHIRKY: Yes. And so not needing everyone to be a committed activist, to get them to decide to take action, is a big change. On the other hand, people can get on to issues much quicker but they can get off of those issues much quicker, as well. So it's actually a very different dynamic.

CORNISH: Yeah, and what's the danger of that? Because, you know, after Komen for the Cure, Super Bowl was the trending topic. It seems as though, you know, these waves can shift pretty rapidly.

SHIRKY: Right. No, absolutely. The danger is that the inconsistent attention that comes from a mass of people has some salutary effects for democracy, but also carry some risks. And the risks are that we get a set of policies that are entirely subject to the whims of people's readily activated emotions.

But the overall change has been that the people's potential oversight and involvement is simply at a higher level now, because everyone can see the outrage. And so, there's no way for the target of the outrage to sort of say, well, some people are calling us against us, but other people are calling us pro - so it's about even. Right? When the Susan Komen thing happened there was no way for Komen to stage-manage the issue.

CORNISH: That's Clay Shirky. He's a professor of new media at New York University. Clay, thanks so much.

SHIRKY: Thank you, Audie. Thanks for having me.

Joseph Tepper (CAS '14) is an ocean-loving, adventure-seeking A&S undergrad and underwater photographer. He is also the assistant editor at Divephotoguide.com, a popular underwater imaging website, and Scuba Diver- Through the Lens, the world's only underwater photo magazine. Since his first dive at the ripe age of ten years, he has fallen in love with exploring the underwater world and capturing his dives with beautiful images. In fact, last year, Tepper was honored by the 2011 38th Festival of Underwater Images Marseille as the recipient of the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society Prize.

This fearless diver has seen a lot down there--sting rays, sharks, and even penguins! Just take a look at some of his photographs...

Pretty cool huh? Well, we knew you'd think so--so, we contacted him and asked him a few questions. In the Q&A below, we talk to Tepper about the diving experience and what his time at NYU has been like so far:

You’ve stated before that you first started diving at age ten. When/where was your most memorable/life-changing dive?

While I have accrued more than 1,000 dives in the last ten years, one of the most special remains the first time I strapped the tank on my back and jumped in the ocean. Only ten years old, I was on vacation with my family in Hawaii where I saw a handful of people learning to dive in the resort pool. When I had tired of holding my breath and diving down 12 feet to say “hi” to the neaveau divers, I tried signing up for a lesson of my own, only to discover I was two years too young. Luckily, my devoted mother and accomplice convinced the staff that I was actually 12 years old who happened to be 4-feet tall and weighing in at 95 pounds soaking wet (which I soon would be). Wading into the water off the hotel beach I remember feeling the weight of the 50-pound tank on my back disappear and thinking, “see, this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.” It was only after crawling hands and knees back onto the shore after my first dive that I realized two things—diving in the ocean was much better than watching people in the pool, and I was ready for a growth spurt.

Have you ever been in a dangerous situation underwater?

Despite fears of sharks, claustrophobia and the lochness monster, diving is a very safe pastime—sharks rarely bite divers, the ocean is surprisingly open and we’re still waiting to hear from “locky.” What people may look at as dangerous underwater – getting caught up in a feeding frenzy of sharks or fast moving current, for example – photographers see as prime shooting opportunities. It is safe to say that, in general, what separates photographers from the average observer is the gut-wrenching urge to run towards danger to get that one shot.

When did you become interested in photography, and how has it changed the diving experience for you?

I purchased one of those blue, disposable underwater cameras from the hotel gift shop and began snapping away on my first dive, running out of film only minutes into the water. Needless to say, I have improved my equipment slightly since that first camera, but my eagerness to capture the underwater world on a dive in the middle of the South Pacific, waterfall in central park or a quarry in southern Illinois is just as strong as the day I bought that disposable camera.

Can you talk a bit about your typical process when going on a dive?

The thing I love most about underwater photography is the absence of anything typical. Some photo-shoots involve weeks of scouting, coordinating with human models and hoping the elements cooperate, while some of the best opportunities are found by just grabbing a camera and winging it. During a break on a photo expedition to the Galapagos I noticed about two dozen “Silky” sharks hanging off the back of our boat and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to jump in. Unfortunately, the crew was not to thrilled with my idea of jumping in and tying myself to the ship, so I had to settle with dunking half my body and camera off the back deck while a lucky volunteer held my feet. The end result was a series of dramatic shark photos and some unhappy parents.

What made you choose to attend NYU?

The college search for me was very much a blur: applications going out, letters flying in. By the time all was said and done, I realized that going to college in a place that allowed me to explore myself mattered as much as my major. It’s funny how things work out. You can have a plan to be a biology major at a school in New Haven, Boston (well outside Boston) or any of those other places where people don’t actually say the name of the school, but sometimes the best thing to do is not follow a plan.

How have your studies at NYU influenced or changed your approach to underwater photography?

I have actually only taken one photography course at NYU so far, but so much about photography cannot be learned in a classroom. Having daily access to one of the world’s most active and photogenic cities has been as valuable as any formal training. Much of the technique and artistic flare used in underwater photography can be applied land-lubbing subjects. I also took an Environmental Journalism class Junior year, which allowed me to use my writing as a tool to compliment my photography in my efforts to show the beauty of the troubled underwater environment

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I would like to say I have a clear picture of myself in ten years, but there are some images that I just can’t visualize. Photography and journalism are experiencing tumult with the transition to digital media, and the ocean is in similarly troubled waters. The good news is powerful photography and poignant journalism continue to affect change in our world—so all I can hope to do is get a little closer to that level in the coming decade.

Be sure to follow Joseph Tepper on Twitter and Tumblr!

Well okay, maybe he's not a rock star just yet.

While on sabbatical, NYU A&S Psychology Professor Gary Marcus decided that he wanted to learn to play the guitar. The interest was prompted by playing the popular video game, Guitar Hero. As an expert on cognitive development, Prof. Marcus understands the consensus that, in order to learn a second language (or an instrument), one must pick it up at an early age, before the brain is fully developed. He states on NPR:

We used to believe that that was the case — that if you didn't learn by the time you were 16, you'd never become fluent. What we know now is that some adults actually do become fluent. And although it's definitely easier to learn some things when you're a kid, it's not the case that you just absolutely lose the ability later in life. There's more of a gradual decline, but it is still possible.

So, Prof. Marcus learned to play the guitar. And in his own personal experiment on cognitive development, he proved that an adult, despite lacking musical aptitude, is perfectly capable of picking up a new instrument. That is, as long as he or she commits to practicing!

In his new book, Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning, Prof. Marcus describes the experience of learning a new instrument as an adult, and he challenges certain beliefs about musical talent and training.

Be sure to listen to this podcast by National Public Radio that features Professor Marcus speaking with NPR's Rachel Martin, and read this article in the New York Times, "Applied Neuroscience, the Six-String Method," which delves further into how he learned to play the guitar.

Over the past week-and-a-half, we have been thrilled with the opportunity to speak with three CAS students who were named by the Washington Square News as the most influential students at NYU. We'd like to extend a "thank you" to Catherine, Albert and Kayla for participating in the alumni blog and for sharing their passions with us. Be sure to read the full publication that features all fifteen of NYU's most influential students of 2011!

Kayla Santosuosso is the "sustainability queen" on campus. Although her major is in Middle Eastern studies, she is known for her involvement in all sustainability-related initiatives at NYU. As she stated to the Washington Square News, "if there's a sustainability project or environmentalist-related project on campus, I probably know about it, and chances are I might even have my hand in it some way."

Last week, we had the opportunity to ask Ms. Santosuosso a few questions about her experiences at NYU and the difficulties in persuading students to go "green."

What factors made you choose the NYU College of Arts and Science for your undergraduate education?

NYU was really one of the only schools I had considered at the time--I was eager for engagement beyond the classroom, and saw NYU as the one campus with the most opportunities. Similarly, CAS offered me the same kind of flexibility with my academics. I declared an English major when I first entered, but am graduating this Spring with a Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies degree. Being able to change my mind and explore different fields was a necessity. CAS allowed me to do that, but still afforded me a strong department and plenty of academic support when I arrived at a major.

Can you talk briefly about how you became involved in the NYU community and which engagements are most meaningful to you?

I didn't feel particularly connected to the NYU community until I started getting involved with environmental and social activism on campus. It actually started on one particular day when I reached out to my Environmental Studies professor, Julianne Warren, and talked to her about some of the ideas I'd been throwing around. At the time I was trying to do an independent research project on composting in New York City, and Professor Warren (being the gracious educator that she is) offered to connect me to others on campus doing this work. A few weeks later I found myself on the Sustainability Task Force, with a bunch of composting, food, and waste experts talking about projects they wanted to do on campus. Needless to say, I never finished my research. But I did start meeting folks who were interested in the same work, and that's when everything really took off.

I eventually ended up working for the Office of Sustainability, under Jeremy Friedman (the Manager of Sustainability Initiatives) who has really empowered me and made me realize my potential to lead. This empowerment was crucial, because it led to me starting the Student Food Cooperative at NYU, which has undoubtedly been the most meaningful engagement. It's a community-based project which uses consensus-based decision making to test out a new economic model on campus, while seeking to provide the NYU community with local, organic, sustainably-sourced food. Not only is the group full of stellar, passionate students, but it's through this project that I've gotten to work with administration, like Beth Morningstar, who has also helped to make me feel valued as a leader at NYU.

This entire experience has been much more enriching than I could have possibly imagined. But I had to be proactive to get it, and I was very fortunate to get connected to the right people at the right time.

What roadblocks have you experienced while encouraging NYU students to lead a more sustainable lifestyle?

The first roadblock is apathy. It's hard getting folks to care about preventing climate change, much less feel responsible for it. We're constantly trying to communicate to students the urgency of action and behavioral change without seeming threatening, so we opt instead for "get involved with sustainability" because it's positive. But it's a challenge to use such passive language when you're nearly desperate to see immediate change.

The second is basically the typical New York City overstimulated lifestyle--no one has any time, and if they do, they never have enough to be totally committed. We're fortunate to have a solid group of students, faculty, and staff in our programs and support networks, but it's constantly a race against the clock. At the Office of Sustainability, for example, we're forced to pick and choose projects each year based on what we feel are the utmost priorities. Students often ask me: "why don't we have composting all over campus" or "shouldn't we have an Office of Sustainability at Abu Dhabi?". Of course, but we don't yet have the staff and support. In 2006, President Sexton took a bold, important step by signing the ACUPCC commitment to become a climate-neutral campus by 2040, and our office is totally committed to seeing it happen. But since then we haven't seen nearly enough support or commitment from senior university leadership to do so. I fully believe that sustainability is central to our mission as a university, and the real challenge is getting everyone on campus, from students to leadership, to agree.

Albert Cotugno, named by the Washington Square News as one of the fifteen "Most Influential Students of 2011," is known at NYU for his influence in student government. As a philosophy student, he has strong beliefs on how governments should be run, partly drawing upon the beliefs of Socrates who dedicated his life to reason. In fact, Mr. Cotugno has two very strong qualities that strengthen his political influence at NYU: One, he values truth in government. And two, he knows how to get stuff done! Throughout his time at NYU, Mr. Cotugno has certainly made his mark at the University, especially after having been sent to NYU Abu Dhabi to set up their student government.

We had the opportunity to ask Mr. Cotugno a few questions about his experiences at NYU.

What factors made you choose CAS for your undergraduate education?

I knew that a liberal arts education was something I valued as I was looking for a school. NYU's College of Arts and Science accepted me, and I was invited to New York City for a weekend where I had a chance to meet current students and also meet deans and faculty and hear their views on pedagogy. I began to realize that NYU had a unique ability, in virtue of its location, to provide me a world-class liberal arts education that would draw from and be seriously complemented by New York City. There were also many cross-school opportunities presented to me, such as the Business Studies minor through the Stern School of Business. I wanted to expand my horizons in college, to become more worldly and understanding. I knew I could accomplish this at NYU in a way I could not anywhere else.

Can you talk briefly about how you became involved in the NYU community and which engagements are most meaningful to you?

I heard about the club fair shortly after settling into my residence hall, so a few friends and I decided to see what we might want to get involved with. Though I never expected it, I ended up joining a fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. I was impressed with the fraternity's unique commitment to anti-hazing and pledging. Diversity of interests and backgrounds amongst the membership was encouraged - it seemed like a perfect community to be a part of at NYU. Through one of my fraternity brothers, I became involved in the Student Senators Council, and I enjoyed the work of advocacy very much. In SigEp, I learned how to work with and lead my friends; in the SSC, I learned how to think about wide constituencies. This combination has allowed me to build a skill set I really value. I have also made many friends and connections that have and continue to have a really positive impact on my life.

You stated in the Washington Square News that you hope for student government to grow and become more effective. In your opinion, what would student government at NYU look like if it were to reach its full potential, and how could that effect the NYU community?

NYU is a huge place, and there are a lot of students with many different interests and concerns. Luckily, there are individual student councils at each of the schools. At its full potential, NYU's student government would always be working for the best of the most. We would have strong advocacy, which means all representatives would have a deep knowledge of the complexities of their constituencies. This way, we could discover which particular issues were facing many students and then solve them. Another big impact we have on students is the regulation and budgeting of clubs. We can always improve these processes to make it as easy as possible for students to do what they want to do. Taking it a step further would be to make it as easy as possible for students with similar interests (or interests that complement and complicate each other) to get in touch, through cross-club activities.

In December, the Washington Square News released its annual publication, "The 15 Most Influential Students: Class of 2011" along with a short introductory video. We are proud to say that four of the fifteen are CAS students! And over the past two weeks, we've been able to talk to three of them: Catherine Peña, Albert Cotugno and Kayla Santosuosso.

Catherine Peña is known on campus for her strong passion for empowering minority students and uniting diverse groups across NYU. She is highly involved on campus in organizations such as Latinos Unidos Con Honor Y Amistad (LUCHA), the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, La Herencia Latina and the Student Resource Center. Ms. Peña is also a recipient of the Higher Education Opportunity Program Scholarship.

What factors made you choose CAS for your undergraduate education?

As a senior at NYU, I am closing a wonderful chapter of my life and preparing myself to begin the next one: life as a law student. My academic focus has been based on my desire to obtain a legal education. Ever since I realized, in high school, that I wanted to pursue a career in law I have strategically planned my decisions to ensure that I will reach my goal. While researching where I wanted to pursue my undergraduate studies, I discovered and fell in love with the field of Sociology. When I applied to NYU this is what I looked for and the College of Arts & Science was where I found it. After my first semester, I knew that Sociology was perfect for me and I also knew that CAS was the right place for me. The school is large enough to provide me an array of learning environments, resources and opportunities, yet it is also small enough to allow me the opportunity to meet, interact and work with amazing students, faculty and staff.

Can you talk briefly about how you became involved in the NYU community and which engagements are most meaningful to you?

In August, before beginning my studies at NYU, I began working at the Student Resource Center. This office is an information center for the University, it also holds events for students and is a division of Student Affairs at the university. Working there I became acquainted with everything going on on campus, along with the many opportunities and resources available to students here. This all led me to become involved with student organizations during my freshman year at NYU. I wanted to do something beyond academics during my time here. During the fall semester, I discovered various student organizations oriented towards Latino students, such as Bella Quisqueya, BQ (the Dominican student organization on campus), La Herencia Latina, the planning committee Latino Heritage Month at NYU, and L.U.C.H.A. (Latinos Unidos Con Honor & Amistad, Latinos United with Love and Friendship) the oldest and largest Latino student organization on campus. The BQ executive board creates a small committee to be in charge of Dominican Independence Week at the University, which takes place during the month of February. When they advertised the committee positions, I decided to run for secretary, and won. From there, I remained in the organization and was eventually elected president for the 2010-2011 school year. Working with BQ also led me to become involved with L.U.C.H.A., for which I am currently president. From all of the work I have done with these organizations, there are three things that hold the most meaning for me. The first was reinstating and reviving the Latino Unity Conference (LUC) at the university. LUC is a student ran and organized conference and was an important part of L.U.C.H.A. in its prime years. It had not taken place at the university since 2007. The second was a celebration of the 40 years of L.U.C.H.A at NYU, for which we created the Fuerza Award, intended to commemorate and recognize the many faces that make LUCHA the powerful organization that it has become. The third, was receiving a 2011 President's Service Award on behalf of L.U.C.H.A. Overall, however, it has always been the small things, such as bringing people together, that motivate me the most and push me to continue onward with the work I do.

In the Washington Square News, your colleague, Jazmin Molina, described you as, “the epitome of what it means to succeed aside from all the hardship that…minority students have to go through.” As a minority student, what sorts of hardships have you experienced, and what factors have enable you to overcome them and become an influential figure in the NYU community?

I am very touched by what Jazmin Molina said about me. It is absolutely amazing to see that words like those have been used to describe and refer to me. It is also phenomenal to experience the effects some of the work I am involved with can have. It truly is an honor. As a student of color on campus I have faced many hardships and obstacles, but the important part is that I have overcome them all. NYU is a very big place and finding students that look like me and share similar experiences to mine has proved a difficult task. At the same time, there is a lot of segregation amongst minorities and students of color on campus, which make efforts of unity and community building even harder. As a student leader, I have taken it upon myself to create spaces of unity and community through the organizations that I am a part of. I can say that we have successfully been able to bring many different kinds of people together in one room under the same agenda, and these experiences have been phenomenal.
Overall, I have never allowed for my identity as a student of color, as a minority at NYU, to dictate where I go, what I do or to create any sort of limits or boundaries. I have made an effort to take advantage of all of the resources and opportunities available to me for simply being an NYU student. I have found my own niches and created my own communities at NYU, which have enabled me to always continue onward.

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Stay tuned tomorrow and Friday to hear more about CAS students Albert Cotugno and Kayla Santosuosso!

Studio 20 is a master's level concentration program at the NYU Carter Journalism Institute. In collaboration with ProPublica.org, they created a music video called, "My Water's on Fire Tonight," also well-known as "The Fracking Song."

The video portrays a well-planned, highly researched and unbiased report on the effects of fracking. With over 220,000 views on Youtube and quite the catchy tune, the video has been well received by viewers, and has even been named by Time as the second most creative video of 2011! That is quite an accomplishment.

So if you want the quick lowdown, cliffs notes version of "what exactly is fracking?" be sure to watch the video and share with your friends. However, one word of caution: once you watch, you may be whistling the tune for hours thereafter.

We’re ringing in the new year with a whole lot of anticipation and enthusiasm for what 2012 will bring for NYU Arts and Science. We have several exciting ideas for blog posts, interviews and alumni events, so stay tuned! In fact our New Year’s Resolution this year is to post on the blog at least once per week—so be sure to subscribe.

This being our first post for 2012, we thought it would be a good idea to start off by telling you a little more about the individuals who are behind the phone and computer screen—your alumni relations team. When you call us (at 212-998-6880), email us (at cas.alumni@nyu.edu, gsas.alumni@nyu.edu, or ls.alumni@nyu.edu), or contact us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, it is one of us helping you on the other end!

Ann Marie Ladisa—Senior Director of Alumni Relations, NYU Arts & Science has led the alumni team since 2006 prior to serving as Director of Alumni Relations in the central Alumni Office.She holds a BS from St. Francis College and an MA from NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. A native New Yorker and foodie, Ann Marie enjoys all the sights, sounds and smells of Greenwich Village.

Evan Nisenson—Alumni Outreach Coordinator, NYU Arts & Science
Evan is thrilled to be working in the NYU Arts and Science Alumni Office. He began working in Alumni Relations at NYU in 2006 and has enjoyed interacting with numerous alumni, faculty and students over the years. Evan graduated from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at NYU with a BS in Communication Studies and is currently completing his MA at the Gallatin School for Individualized Study. Don’t be surprised if you receive an email or call from Evan asking if he can interview you for the Arts and Science Alumni Blog.

Max Kubert—Administrative Aide, NYU Arts & Science Alumni Relations
Having joined us last September, Max is the newest member of our team. After graduating from Ithaca College in 2010 with a BS in communications, he went abroad to teach English in Vietnam. About one year later, he's back in the states with a new taste for fish sauce and red hot chili peppers! Born and raised in the Garden State, he has recently given up Jersey for Queens, and is very excited to be a part of the NYU community.

We look forward to working with you in 2012 and beyond.

Season's greetings from Arts & Science Alumni Relations! We are wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday and a very happy New Year!

We'd, also, like to take a moment to thank everyone who attended this year's CAA Alumni Holiday Happy Hour this year at Phebe's. The turnout was fantastic, and everyone had a fun night socializing and networking. Here are a few highlights from the night:

We hope all of our alumni are enjoying their holiday season, and we look forward to joining you again next year, in 2012!!!

Dylan Anderson is a junior studying Political Communication and Culture with minors in Social & Public Policy and Russian & Slavic Studies. Coming from a White/Latino background, he found himself advocating for social equality in high school. Now, as a CAS student, Dylan is realizing his passion in meaningful ways and rapidly developing an advanced understanding of social justice.

Earlier this week, we spoke with Dylan about featuring him on the blog. After an enthusiastic response, we sent him the following questions. His answers reveal deep-rooted passion and a mature understanding of social injustices.

Could you talk briefly about how you became interested in politics and social/public policies?

This stems from where I grew up and my family background. I grew up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a small city in the central part of the state and also one of the poorest cities in the state. Going to high school in an inner city school, I was surrounded by all the accompanying inner city problems: violence and gangs, drug usage, family issues – an incredible amount of factors that prevented students from being successful in school. However, one element that always bothered me was the school generally did not take these outside factors into account. Rather, students’ failure was seen as something intrinsic in the students, without consideration of these social problems they had to deal with.

A lot of the work I did in high school involved improving the resources for students to help them be more successful academically. On the Student Council, I got the library to extend its hours after school; for many students, this was the only opportunity they had to use a computer and complete school work. My Senior year I founded the AP Test Fund. Students had to pay to take their AP exams. This cost deterred many from trying for fear that they would receive a non-passing grade. However, of the students who did go on to college, most went to state schools where a score of 3 or above is accepted, ultimately saving these students money. The AP Test Fund was designed to subsidize the costs of exams so more students would take them.

In my own personal life, I come from a half Latino, half white background. Race has always been incredibly salient to me. I have fair skin, fair hair, and a fairly Anglo name; my sister (named Maria) has a much darker complexion. We’ve always been very similar – in our appearances, in how we act, in what we’ve achieved – but because of our different physical color, she always received much different treatment in schools than I did. Racial tensions were also extremely present in my high school. The school used a tracking system, and as the classes became more difficult, they also became noticeably whiter – even though minorities made up a majority of the school population. Social circles tended to segregate themselves based on these divisions, causing a lot of conflict between white students and minority students.

I had never really thought about entering politics until I started applying to college. When I sat down and thought about what I wanted to pursue, I realized that I had already been acting as an advocate of sorts. This kind of work and what I had done in Fitchburg was incredibly important to me; entering politics on a larger scale at NYU seemed like a natural progression.

If you could change one thing about the world today, what would it be?

There are so many answers I could give for this question. But I think the one answer that I can give that would solve many problems would be for the equality of opportunity to actually exist. In the United States in particular, there’s a general sentiment that with a little hard work you can make it anywhere – without a lot of recognition of the institutional barriers that prevent most people from doing just that. I’m not saying that I would make every person equal along all lines. Rather, I would like to see a society in which the amount of work you put into your education, career, community, etc. translates into equivalent outcomes, and that people have the opportunity from the start to choose to pursue those education, career, and family paths they desire.

How have scholarships and awards influenced the direction of your studies at NYU?

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars program has influenced my entire career at NYU. Through the coursework and mentor relationships I’ve developed in the program, the scholarship has given me a lens through which I approached all my studies. I learned about the self-designed honors major through a program associate, and they helped me through the application process. With my experiences with the program, my major, Political Communication and Culture, is not about studying how to win campaigns. It’s about looking at political communication systems (campaigns, news outlets, government entities, etc.) and how they operate as societal actors. I’ve looked at things like how campaign advertisements alienate certain racial groups, how the crime coverage is implicitly biased against racial minorities, and how media depictions of minorities can unconsciously imbed racist views. But without the social justice framework and support network of the scholarship, my studies probably would have turned out differently.

Where do you see yourself in fifteen years?

I honestly don’t know where my work will take me. Whenever I’m asked this, I wish I could provide a definite answer. Right now I’m pre-law, hoping to focus on media law and critical race theory. With this I would continue on my current academic trajectory, looking at how things like 1st Amendment case law and statutes regarding media regulation affect minority communities. However, my biggest priority is continuing to fight for racial justice. Wherever I end up in my career that will be ultimate goal of my work.

I have two big “dreams” if you want to call them that. First, I want to be successful enough and to have had enough impact in my field to testify in front of Congress and retire as an adjunct professor. I have these two goals because I feel as though they indicate that you’ve achieved a high level of credibility in your field, have been able to work towards significant change in that field, and you have the ability to transfer a certain passion onto another generation. Second, my dream career is to start a Political Action Committee (PAC) focused solely on ethical campaigning. The PAC would award money to candidates based on factors like which communities are they targeting (or alienating), how they go negative, how they advertise or talk about contentious issues (like immigration), etc. It would take a lot of time and money, but I think it would be a step towards involving more communities in the political process and creating a more civil political process. For now, I guess I’ll see what happens.

Professor Deborah Landau is the Director of the Creative Writing Department at NYU Arts and Science. She is the author of Orchidelirium, which won the Anhinga Prize for Poetry, and The Last Usable Hour, a Lannan Literary Selection published by Copper Canyon Press.

Last week, we had a chance to speak with Professor Landau about what inspires her poetry, her experiences at NYU, and how alumni can get involved with the Creative Writing Department!

Were you always interested in poetry? As a graduating high school senior about to embark on your undergraduate education, what path did you initially see yourself heading down?

I’ve loved poetry since childhood. My mother gave me a book of Anne Sexton’s Love Poems when I turned thirteen and I was hooked.

When I left Ann Arbor (to go to Stanford) at first I thought I’d major in Physics or Philosophy but I couldn’t stop signing up for English classes. I ended up being an English major, writing poetry, and eventually going on to graduate school in English Literature.

Could you provide a brief synopsis of your background, and what factors influenced you to become a writer and teacher of poetry?

After finishing my PhD I thought I’d be an English Professor somewhere, but found I was more interested in writing poetry than in writing about poetry. I was fortunate enough to land a job teaching poetry at The New School, where I spent many years as an Associate Professor and Asst. Chair of the Writing Program before coming to NYU to direct the Creative Writing Program here in 2007.

To quote Robert Frost, “A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.” Where do your poems come from? Is there a specific emotion, process or ritual that helps you get the words down on paper?

I love that quotation from Frost -- if we were content with the world the way it is why would we make anything? Writing poetry is a compulsion, and an extremely satisfying one. In my experience, poems often begin from a place of inner agitation. I work to suspend the inner critic for as long as I can to generate language, and then try to be as ruthless as possible in revision. I do need a routine--which is to try to write at least an hour every morning no matter what--because otherwise the demands of my job would take over entirely. Reading is crucial. Good music and lots of coffee are helpful, too.

In the art world, the question is often speculated, “What is art?” In your opinion, what is a poem? Are there rules one must follow to create a successful poem? Or can anyone simply declare their writing as a work of poetry?

I would say that a poem is any piece of language defined by its author as a poem. What is a good poem? That is a more difficult question to answer, and has a lot to do with personal taste. It’s hard to generalize, but the poems I love most tend to have a particular intensity and compression, and tend to be made of language that is lively, vivid, and strange, and driven by a strong interior music and currents of emotion.

You have a wide academic background that includes studying at Stanford, Columbia and Brown—all prestigious, world-class universities. How does your experience at NYU compare, and has your time teaching in the Creative Writing Department influenced your personal work in any way?

I adore my job at NYU – it’s an inspiring and sustaining pleasure to work with so many extraordinary poets (Yusef Komunyakaa, Sharon Olds, Anne Carson, Charles Simic, Matthew Rohrer, among many others). The students, too, are wonderfully energetic and smart and talented. I feel very fortunate to show up for work every day at the Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House where so many lively conversations about literature and writing occur daily.

What distinguishes NYU’s Creative Writing program?

Our world-class faculty. In addition to the poetry faculty (listed above) our fiction faculty this year include E.L Doctorow, Zadie Smith, Jonathan Safran Foer, Lydia Davis, Aleksandar Hemon, Chuck Wachtel, and Darin Strauss. The marvelous Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House on 10th street is a beautiful home for the program – classes are held there, faculty have offices there, on Thursday and Friday evenings we fill the place to the rafters and hold readings (http://cwp.fas.nyu.edu/page/readingseries) followed by booksignings and wine receptions. The students use the public areas of the house as lounges throughout the year, bringing books and laptops, ordering in food, meeting in small groups. And we have fantastic house parties whenever there is cause to celebrate.

What options are there for our alumni to become more involved in the Creative Writing program?

We love to see alums at our weekly readings (http://cwp.fas.nyu.edu/page/readingseries) and alumni are also welcome to drop by 58 West 10th Street anytime to see the house and say hello.

A Poem by Deborah Landau:

from Welcome to the Future

*
worry the river over its banks
the train into flames

worry the black rain into the city
the troops into times square

worry the windows cracked acidblack
and the children feverblistered

worry never another summer
never again to live here gentle
with the other inhabitants

then leave too quickly
leave the pills and band-aids
the bathroom scale the Christmas lights the dog

go walking on our legs
dense and bare and useless

worry our throats and lungs
into taking the air

leave books on the shelves
leave keys dustpan

telephones don't work where you were
in the chaos

We are always thrilled when alumni send us their photos such as this one from Bob Shedlarz, ARTS '67, taken at the Heights Hall of Fame by the Associate Engineering Dean, Larry Hollander in the Spring of 1967. The Goliards were a subsidiary singing group formed from NYU Glee Club members, chosen by Associate Director E. Jon DeRevere, who later was professor of music at the Square. The vocalists took their name from a band of medieval students who roamed throughout Europe, composing and singing songs of a secular nature.

NYU's Goliards always had a heavy schedule of appearances for many campus and out-of-town performances, as well as radio and coast-to-coast TV. In 1962, they were invited by the Armed Forces Entertainment Bureau to tour Europe over the summer for seven weeks to entertain at the Armed Forces Bases.

Personnel, back row, from the left: Steve Peiser, Bob Billig, Dick Zahnd, Bob Schneider, Stu Kauffman, Bruce Kanfer, Bill Philpot. Front row, kneeling, from the left: Stu Patchen, Bob Shedlarz.

If you have photos you'd like to send to us please email us at cas.alumni@nyu.edu. We would also like to remind you that all of the Heights yearbooks are now digitized and can be viewed at the Jeffrey S. Gould Welcome Center, 50 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012.

Erin Schrode, among (many) other things, is a junior studying in the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis. Those "other" things include the co-founder and spokeswoman for "Teens Turning Green," the founder of "The Schoolbag" initiative, promoter of environmental education and global sustainability, actress, and model... And that's only on the weekdays.

Erin has written for the Huffington Post, the elephant journal, Eco Age and Green Envy, to name a few. She has also been featured by NBC, ABC, BBC, CNN, MTV, FOX, E!, Discovery, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, New York Post, Vanity Fair, National Geographic, Seventeen, Teen Vogue, Huffington Post, The White House, AOL and BBC Radio (again, just to name a few). For her full portfolio and more, visit Erin's website at www.erinschrode.com.

Last week, we were lucky enough to catch Ms. Schrode between studying for finals and writing term papers, so we asked her a few questions about her experience at NYU and how it has tied into her life as an "ecoRenaissance" woman. Enjoy!

What made you choose NYU for your undergraduate education? And what influenced you to focus your studies on social and cultural analysis?

I walked through the Washington Square campus when I was three years old – and that was it. I was hooked. From that moment on, I imagined myself at NYU. As a young actress, I originally thought Tisch was where I would end up, but as my interest in international relations and global studies grew, CAS emerged as the perfect fit. So, I applied and got accepted into the DEANS Scholars’ Program! Discovering the quantitative focus of our IR curriculum led me to look into other options, programs of study where I could delve into the cultural and humanistic side of international relations. I’m a people person and love seeing the diversity in experiences, communications, and approaches worldwide. While studying abroad in Ghana, someone suggested I take a look at the SCA track, where I could synthesize different areas of cultural studies… and that is precisely what I have been able to do through this department!

Since enrolling at NYU in Fall 2009, you’ve participated in the One Young World international youth conference in London, traveled to Haiti to help with disaster response, developed “The Schoolbag” initiative, traveled through the Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel, lived in Ghana, West Africa, and even shot with the renowned photographer, David Bailey, for Vanity Fair (just to name a few). How do you find time for your school work!?

How do I find time for school work – good question! Well, I don’t sleep. That’s the first thing. Otherwise, I have been incredibly fortunate to have teachers that support my work both inside and outside of the classroom. I have crafted schedules that allow for extended weekends, so I can travel to conferences or speak or shoot or whatnot. I have used the various abroad sites as international hubs – and my vacations and summers are always spent on the move as well!

How have your studies at NYU influenced your focus in environmental and/or social advocacy?

NYU has given me the gift of a global perspective. I have had the chance to pursue and further my environmental and social efforts on a much larger scale, launching environmental education projects with students in Accra, Ghana and facilitating cross-cultural communication among Palestinian, Jordanian, and Israeli youth around common issues of environmental resources, degradation, and conservation. Would I EVER have the chance to do this without NYU? Nope! That is rather remarkable; the entire platform of global studies excites and inspires me. I have also had the great privilege to work with the Sustainability Task Force (for the time that I was actually at the campus on Washington Square Park!) around purchasing and food services. NYU has made great strides as a ‘green’ and environmentally-conscious campus, but there is much more to be done – and I look forward to collaborating with students and administration to further this work. We can and should be a model for universities worldwide!

At the ripe age of twenty years-old, you are the Co-founder of “Turning Green” and the Founder/CEO of “The Schoolbag.” Could you speak briefly about these two endeavors—and to what do you attribute such early successes?

Active citizenry is in my blood. I am the daughter of a television producer-turned-grassroots activist! My mother has instilled in me the belief that one person truly can make a difference in the world – and that we cannot stand apathetically in the face of injustice or wrongdoings at any level. If we can live healthier, happier lives, why not do it?! We walk through life with open eyes and ears, get involved, lead by example, and have an absolute ball in the process! Optimism is our guiding principle. We stand for collaboration in all that we do, forging partnerships and uniting people across various sectors or from differing backgrounds. One such group that I am privileged to be a part of is One Young World, an international youth network comprised of the world’s most promising leaders under age 25 from more than 170 nations!

I co-founded Teens Turning Green in 2005. TTG is a student led movement devoted to education and advocacy around environmentally and socially responsible choices for individuals, schools, and communities. TTG seeks to promote global sustainability by identifying and eliminating toxic exposures that permeate daily life, often unknowingly, yet threaten public and environmental health. What began in California in 2005 now has a presence at elementary, middle and high schools, universities, and student organizations across the United States, as well as a strong virtual platform and media presence. Chapters nationwide lead grassroots efforts that aim to raise awareness, encourage behavior change, and lobby for policy that will lessen local and global impact. We just hosted our largest and most robust initiative to date, Project Green Challenge, a 30-day eco lifestyle challenge that brought together thousands of high school and college students from across the country to transition from conventional to conscious through simple, fun, and high impact daily actions. The digital platform, interaction, and responses were phenomenal – and now we are preparing for the PGC Finals: Green University, a two-day eco summit in the Bay Area, California in December.

After working in disaster response in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010, I founded The Schoolbag. The Schoolbag enables children to pursue an education by providing basic school supplies to young people in need, beginning with Haiti. Raising awareness about the lack of access to education around the world, each bag contains adequate materials for one student to learn for one year. The Schoolbag features environmentally sustainable and ethically produced tools and materials to initiate environmental education. Lack of access to, or availability of, satisfactory school supplies and materials prohibits many children from learning. Acquisition of knowledge is the first step on the path to global sustainability, prosperity, and world peace; innovation and progress stem from education, a universal right. The Schoolbag allows students to further their studies, particularly those living in disaster or conflict-stricken areas or chronic poverty. Our team of international and Haitian volunteers just returned from our back-to-school delivery (Sept – Oct 2011), reaching over 14,189 students with school supplies for this year! It was a truly phenomenal experience; to see the impact that a simple pencil and notebook can have on a student, a teacher, a community is beautiful. There is nowhere on earth that I love more than Haiti – and my work there will continue for years to come, I know.

What advice do you have for other young activists/entrepreneurs who might have passionate interests and creative ideas, but struggle to materialize their passion into a meaningful initiative or new venture?

Passion is the most vital ingredient. Once you find that, everything else will fall into line. Gather a group of like-minded friends or colleagues, educate yourself on the issue (you must know your facts and points of reference, particularly as a young person in an adult’s world), seek out partners – be it organizations, leaders, experts, corporations, media outlets – and get to work! Spread the word! Raise awareness about your platform via social and traditional media. Set clear goals, but arrive at them organically. You will be surprised at the unexpected opportunities that present themselves to you – seize those moments! Be innovative. Believe in yourself. Shoot for the impossible. My motto is: dream and do.

What kind of role do you see yourself taking after graduating from NYU? And where do you see yourself in twenty years from now?

What do I want to be when I grow up, eh? Yikes! To tell you the truth, I haven’t a clue. I am waiting for something to present itself to me. My life has not followed any sort of linear or predictable path – and I treasure that. I have such a rich and diverse background, filled with experiences that have prepared me for just about anything… so I am seeking an outlet in which I can fuse all that I love and do good for others and the world. Youth, education, environment – these are my passions. Food and travel too! So, we shall see. In twenty years, I imagine myself with a family – somewhere on this glorious planet. And that is about all I can say. For now, I will keep on go-go-going, learning and loving each step of the way.

Anne Green (GSAS, '01) is an accomplished musician, literary scholar, and President and Chief Executive Officer of CooperKatz, an award-winning public relations firm. She helped build CooperKatz from the ground up, was named to PR Week’s annual list of "40 Under 40" rising stars in communications, and serves as a guest lecturer in the School of Continuing & Professional Studies—all while jamming out with her husband, the drummer, in their basement in Queens!

This morning, we were fortunate enough to visit with Ms. Green at her office in Midtown. Below, you’ll find an abridged version of our conversation. For the full interview, please click here.

In the early 2000's, after approximately a decade of working in the field of public relations, you entered into the American Literature PhD program at NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science. Now, as a PR professional with over twenty years of experience, can you talk a little about your interest in English and how that education has tied into your profession?

It’s funny. When I was in graduate school, I was at the same time still working in public relations and helping Andy and Ralph build the company [CooperKatz]. This was a start-up, so I’ve been with them, really, fifteen years, but that was contiguous so there were times where I was part-time here at the office. But I was really focusing on graduate school as well. So I had a foot both in the professional world and in academia.

I think that one thing that was interesting from my perspective in graduate school and being in that program was the heavy duty theoretical orientation, the amount of information you’re trying to absorb, and trying to learn new things very quickly (say, a new theorist, a new work, or a new perspective). I always said that that kind of training was so well-suited for the agency and professional services life that I was also living in. Because, here, we are a generalist firm; we work across many industry centers. So I’m working in technology, health care, higher education—and within a day, I have fifteen or sixteen different subject matters. And the ability to ramp up that information and to quickly speak in that language is what you need to do when you’re in graduate school in the humanities. So I always used to tell my friends [at NYU], “hey if anyone wants to be in this field, in communications, you would be well-suited for that.” And I know a few people who have made that transition. The critical thinking, the ability to absorb so much information, and to see the connections between things—there’s so many connections now between industries—that’s what really what brings value to our clients. Someone who has a broad perspective and oversight, who can make connections and can give them higher-level counsel.

As a leader in the field of organizational communications, what personal or professional qualities do you find most valuable in your role?

Definitely intellectual curiosity—and I say that when I interview people all the time. We’ve talked about this for a long time, so everyone here really knows this, but we look for renaissance people. It sounds funny to say, but the types of people who truly do have interests in many different kinds of things: can ramp up different types of information, can get excited about it (that’s the curiosity piece), and can stretch themselves in various ways. Not everybody is perfectly good at everything. And some people that work in this field are better suited working with consumer clients than, say, technology or business-to-business. We want our people to be able to work in many fields.

We have a lot of people, here, who are coming from a liberal arts background, and some of them are coming from a bachelor’s where they studied public relations. But in terms of what we’re looking for intellectually, it’s still that broad, liberal arts orientation.

Have you seen social media change the field of public relations throughout your career?

Yes, massively. It’s seismic. I think the field of PR is exactly the same [as the field of social media] in that we have to connect to the different audiences of our clients in meaningful ways, in authentic ways, that are relevant to them—and hopefully influence thinking. So digital channels are completely an organic extension of that, right? So I think that for PR, since we’ve always been very good at reaching out to different constituencies with the message that’s right for them, it’s really adaptable to social media. You have to understand who you’re talking to and why you’re talking to them. You have to be able to listen to them.

But it’s challenged the field too. There are a lot of folks in this industry who want to push out the information and want to control it. So it’s been hard for this industry to understand that we’re not controlling the message; we need to work with and understand the fact that we’re getting talked back to—people are talking back to us.

And another challenge is that there are a lot of types of marketing. There’s advertising, there’s interactive agencies, so there’s a sense of “who owns social media?” which is a weird, interesting question.

It’s interesting, and I’ll tell you one thing—keeping up with technology is a full-time job. And, you know, there’s a lot of firms that have a social media specialist. But I really feel strongly that everyone in our whole firm has to stay up-to-date with it and we have to educate each other. So whatever level we’re at, we all really have to stay connected. We all have to be sharing knowledge.

And the hard thing too is that, you know, no one had any cognitive dissonance about using an excel spreadsheet to record data, right? But with Facebook, Twitter, Google +, they’re personal tools too. So it all kind of gets wound up in how you feel, personally, as a human being, about using those tools, and how exposed you want to feel. So people sometimes have a lot more angst about these channels. Everyone has a lot of different feelings about privacy and about access, so when these things are also business tools, it gets a lot more messy. And we used to talk in academia about the personal versus the public, and I really see that now in the business world. So that’s another way that my academic background informs me.

To read more about Anne Green, her perspective of a graduate education, the role of music in her life, and even a brief opinion about the recent Penn State crisis, be sure to read her entire interview.

If you are in New York City this weekend and enjoy sampling chocolate from around the world, be sure to check out the NY Chocolate Show which will run from November 10-13, 2011 at Metropolitan Pavilion NYC, 125 West 18th Street.

On Thursday night, alumna Maricel Presilla (GSAS '89) gave an enthusiastic talk about Ecuadorian chocolate. Martin Christy of seventypercent.com led the audience through the proper way of tasting chocolate, slowly bringing it to the mouth so that you see and smell it first then slowly letting it melt on your tongue. We were then treated to numerous samples of Ecuadorian chocolate and learned the history and geography of Ecuador and nacional cacao.

Here's our interview with Maricel, filmed at the chocolate show.

Maricel Presilla is a culinary historian specializing in the foods of Latin America and Spain. She holds a doctorate in medieval Spanish history from New York University and has received formal training in cultural anthropology.

She writes a weekly food column for the Miami Herald and is as comfortable sailing down the Orinoco to collect recipes in the field as she is cooking at Zafra and Cucharamama, her pan-Latin restaurants in Hoboken, New Jersey. Last year she opened Ultramarinos, a Latin American store and cooking atelier, also in Hoboken, NJ, where she sells Latin ingredients, prepared foods, premium chocolates and Blue Cacao, her own line of truffles with Latin flavors.

Sophia Kalantzakos is a Global Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies for NYU Arts and Science. She was recently featured on FOXNEWS, speaking about the Greek economic crisis.

Sophia Kalantzakos was born in Athens. After graduating from Yale and Columbia, she became a Member of the Hellenic Parliament in 2000, the first woman to be elected from the State of Messinia. As a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, she was responsible for Greek-US relations. She was also a member of the European Affairs Committee, the Committee for Education, and served as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Employment and Social Protection. During her tenure at the Ministry, the government passed far reaching pension reforms and she was especially concerned to promote the creation of green jobs through EU structural funds and to help environmental NGOs create new job openings. Currently active in designing and implementing innovative green projects throughout Greece, Sophia Kalantzakos writes widely on economic, labor, and environmental issues in the press and has published a series of educational books on historical and environmental issues.

To find out more about Professor Kalantzakos' books, speaking engagements and media appearances, and to read her blog, visit sophiakalantzakos.com.

All alumni are welcome to visit the Jeffrey S. Gould Welcome Center where digital versions of the University Heights yearbooks are now available for viewing on the computers in the lobby. The yearbooks span in time from the first Heights yearbook in the late 1800's to 1973. These digitized yearbooks are completely searchable, allowing one to look up specific class photos and/or information from these years.

The Jeffrey S. Gould Welcome Center, located at 50 West 4th Street is open 9 to 5 PM, Monday through Friday and from 10 to 4 PM on Saturday. They are closed on major holidays.

The 2011 NYU Entrepreneur’s Festival will take place on November 11th and 12th. We are proud to say that at least ten of the entrepreneurs invited to participate in the festival are Arts and Science Alumni.

They are:

Don Katz (WSC, ’74)—Audible
Ari Goldberg (CAS, ’04)—StyleCaster
Steven Isaacman (GSAS, ’09)—Nanometics
Sachin Kamdar (CAS, ’06)—Parsley
Katie Kapler (CAS, ’07/GSAS, ’08)—CourseHorse
Guari Manglik (CAS, ’10)—SpotOn
Andrew Montalenti (CAS, ’06)—Parsley
Ken Perlin (Courant, ’84, ’86)—Tactonic Technologies
Dan Porter (GSAS, ’95)—OMGPOP
Jonathan Teller (WSC, ’92)—eos Products

If you're available on the weekend of 11/11, be sure to check out the festival! For more information and to register for the event, visit http://nyuentrepreneur.org/festival/.

For the last section of our three-part discussion with recent Arts and Science Alumni, we spoke to Yu-Chen Chen, a 27-year-old GSAS Political Science graduate. Yu-Chen is originally from Taiwan and currently lives in NYC.

Upon graduating from GSAS in 2008, Yu-Chen felt pressured—not only due to the economy, but also because her job search was on a time-limit. As a foreign student without a green card, Yu-Chen only had one year to find a company willing to sponsor her working visa. “I needed to find a company willing to tell the government why they wanted to hire me instead of another American citizen, and explain why I am so special that I deserve a job.”

Pressured by American immigration policies, Yu-Chen buckled down and developed a strategic, purposeful job-search strategy. At first, Yu-Chen remembers that she would spend anywhere from 7-8 hours per day applying for jobs: “so much time…and you think you would get something in return. And you do—frustration! My mind was initially just ‘job, job, job.’ Wake up, go straight to the computer, and apply for jobs. It wasn’t good at all.”

After a few days, Yu-Chen realized this technique wasn’t working. So she decided to change her strategy. “I limited myself to applying for jobs only one hour per day. I did not want to waste time. Instead, I did a lot of reading and I prepared for interviews. I recorded myself, listened to the recording, talked to myself, and anticipated questions. Since English is not my first language, I tried to frame my words to make them more appealing.

…Since I knew the type of job I was applying for [marketing research and analysis], I made a cover letter template and modified it based on whichever position I applied for. I was able to quickly send out 10-15 applications per day, and I created a spread sheet to track the companies I was interested in and had applied to.”

In addition to time management, Yu-Chen also told us that networking was an essential strategy for her job search. Specifically, networking through LinkedIn and NYU networking groups proved to be very helpful. We asked Yu-Chen how LinkedIn could best be utilized in this situation: “Join lots of professional groups,” she said, “and keep updating your profile. Recruiters notice that. Also, post questions. There are many experts and gurus on LinkedIn that will notice your questions, respond to you and become a connection.”

Yu-Chen now works as a Research Manager in Customer Loyalty for GFK Custom Research North America, the fourth-largest market research company in the world.

“Why did they choose you?” we asked.

“They needed someone who was technically savvy. I noticed that a lot of new hires in social and political science were not very technical. Most recent grads knew a lot about theory but not how to apply that theory or incorporate it into technical research tools. I provided a working example proving my technical abilities.”

Yu-Chen’s advice is simple: “Make the best use of your time. Don’t spend the whole day applying for jobs. Use your time to improve yourself and to demonstrate that you are so amazing that people will want to hire you. If you spend eight hours applying for jobs, they don’t care. They only care if you are a strong candidate. They won’t know how many jobs you’ve applied for—they only know what you are capable of.”

A special thank you to Yu-Chen Chen, Nora Strecker and Alexander Pogrebinsky for their time and participation.

Nora Strecker is a 25 year-old, 2010 Arts and Science graduate. She attended NYU for both her BA and MA in economics. Ms. Strecker currently works as a research assistant at the Swiss Federal Institute, and lives outside of Zurich, Switzerland.

We had an opportunity to talk to Ms. Strecker about her experiences at CAS/GSAS, what ultimately led her to search outside the box (aka the US) for work, and how she went about the international job search. She has some very interesting and encouraging advice (applicable also if you wish to stay in the US), so we encourage all recent grads to continue reading!

Upon graduation, Ms. Strecker was worried. “There was a joke in the Econ MA program that we weren’t getting an MA in economics, but rather in economic crisis.” She had begun graduate coursework in 2008, so at that time, the economy was looking especially bleak.

“I had friends who graduated in 2009,” says Strecker, “who were still looking for work by 2010 graduation. Or who were working jobs they were wildly overqualified for and just needed to get by.”

After witnessing others struggle to find employment since 2008, when she graduated in 2010, Strecker decided to investigate other options. “I decided to look elsewhere. I didn’t want to set out for a different city in the US, as all of the US was facing a similar battle with the deluge of recent graduates (from the years 2008, 2009, 2010 all looking to find something)… I moved in with my brother in Switzerland… to a place where I had never been as a working adult.”

Although Ms. Strecker had lived in Switzerland until the age of fourteen, she had never experienced the country as an independent, with “real-life” responsibilities.

“Switzerland’s economy was strong at the time, and as it is the land of banks and money, I thought, it would be a great place for me and my economics MA from a prestigious university in the US. So I moved to Switzerland in August of 2010. Immediately after arriving, I had a job interview at the university. It was a research assistant job… Well, they would end up taking someone who had two masters’ degrees. That was blow number one, I was very disappointed, I never thought that I could be rejected with my awesome degree.

So my job hunt ensued. I would apply for jobs, wait for responses. Mainly negative. My economics degree wasn’t what they were looking for. They wanted someone with a business degree, and although economics might be on the list of ‘qualified candidates should come from the field of [blank],’ their definition and NYU’s definition of economics was very different. I had already perfected my CV, so after my brother had helped me ‘Swiss-ify’ my cover letter, I sent out multiple applications…

In the three months I was actively looking for a job, I got invited to five job interviews, of the 30 job applications I had sent out.”

Ms. Strecker found that going abroad imposed some similar challenges as many of our recent grads are facing here in the US. Applying for jobs and writing cover letters requires you to devote a lot of time and energy to the process, and it can be frustrating if you’re seeing no return on that investment. It is important to reflect on what you could do differently to promote yourself to potential employers. “I had people look over my resume and cover letter,” says Strecker. “It helped to just have people read it and tell me whether my wording was too complicated or how it made me sound. Confident is good, arrogant is bad. Finding that line is hard, so I needed help. Besides, it’s hard to praise yourself without praising yourself.”

Ms. Strecker stressed the need to “get help when you need it.” Having others look over your materials, especially if they are well-acquainted with your chosen profession, can be paramount to you impressing an employer and landing that job.

Lastly, we asked Strecker what advice she had for fellow NYU alumni who are struggling to find work in this harsh economic climate:

“I had so many days when I just had crying fits, regretting my decision, thinking I had been so stupid to give up on the US, but friends and family continued to encourage me with new ideas and gave me a chance to bawl on their shoulders. So get help… Either through NYU, friends, family, your network, friends of family. I had recommendation letters ready to go from my former bosses and professors just in case a job came up that required it.

Ask questions in the interview. I failed in the first interview once he asked ‘have you got any questions for us,’ and I answered ‘not really.’ Big mistake. Research them, prepare bullet points. Even having that list on the table looks good. Plus you’ll feel prepared and ready.

Confidence is good, keep that, but don’t think that you should get that 80k/90k/100k job just because you spent that much on your education. That piece of paper you got in the mail doesn’t have much heft, [it wont] knock anyone out... but YOU can. You learned a lot. So show them that…

And lastly, consider taking the oddball stuff. You never know what’ll happen. Even if you end up in the land of cheese and chocolate, you might always come back to the US or even go somewhere entirely different. The world’s not that big anymore.

What’s NYU’s motto? Perstare et praestare. To persevere and excel. NYU couldn’t have chosen anything more fitting for these economic times.”

Life as a recent grad isn’t as easy as it used to be—although NYU offers world-class support to our alumni, we realize that, in this harsh economic climate, finding your first post-graduate position is easier said than done. In fact, according to job placement firm Adecco in CNNMoney, “[this year] about 60% of recent graduates have not been able to find a full-time job in their chosen profession.”

We recognize the difficulty our recent grads may be experiencing in the job market— despite all of their remarkable accomplishments while earning their degree at NYU. So we decided to publish a blog-post addressing the issue. Last week, you might have noticed our Facebook posts and Twitter tweets asking to speak with you about your post-grad experiences searching for a job. Well, we spoke to several individuals, and we would like to take this opportunity to highlight the stories and advice of three exceptional graduates who chose the road less traveled and took different approaches to the job search. Over the next few days, we will be posting a three-part blog entry that will offer advice and encouragement to our recent alums:

Part I: Entrepreneurship
Part II: Beyond the USA
Part III: Finding Employment as an Expatriate

Part I: Entrepreneurship

Alexander Pogrebinsky is a 28 year-old 2011 graduate of the Russian and Slavic Studies Masters program at the Graduate School of Arts and Science. He is COO at Pogrebinsky Group Inc., whose first venture (a high-end restaurant in Long Island City) will be opening in mid-November.

While studying at NYU, Pogrebinsky was thankful to be part of an atmosphere that encourages critical thinking—an academic environment that he states, “resulted in disciplined and highly competitive graduates.” While it is true that NYU graduates are certainly distinguished among grads of many other American universities, the job market can still prove to be an unforgiving and frustrating place. And with a little guts, some connections and a good attitude, you might want to consider spending your downtime planning a new venture.

At graduation, Mr. Progrebinsky felt proud of his fellow graduates and his University, and he was inspired by President Bill Clinton’s commencement speech. But upon graduating, his mind was already made up—he had chosen to go in his own direction: “Long before my graduation, I was thinking about which way I will go. I considered several options, both in the private sector and in government… I came to the conclusion that at this point, regardless of how risky it is to start your own business, it was more of a risk not to start my business.”

Networking: for anyone interested in becoming an entrepreneur, networking is critical. Of course, networking is also imperative throughout any typical job searching process, but the strategy for generating useful contacts can be quite different for an entrepreneur. Maintenance of strong relationships will help you to strengthen your new business and provides more opportunities for collaboration. Progrebinsky reflects on this process: “Creating your own business involves much more research, time and critical and analytical thinking. You are often networking with a broad spectrum of professionals for a variety of very different reasons—which you may not need to do while looking for your first job. [When you network] you look at your business as a child that needs to grow, be protected and be successful.”

Lastly, we asked Mr. Progrebinsky what single piece of advice he would give to a recent NYU graduate who is struggling to find work or start her or his own business in this harsh economic climate. He replied, “Keep an open mind and be open to all business opportunities, not always necessarily in your specific field. There are many unknown and unexpected paths to our professional goals, we cannot expect that each path will be the same for everybody. The main thing I would say is be open, persistent, and do not be afraid to take calculated risks. We don’t always know which path will lead us to our success.”

Progrebinsky Group Inc’s first venture will be “BEAR,” a high-end restaurant and bar in the developing neighborhood of Long Island City. Be sure to check it out when it opens next month, in mid-November 2011. But in the meantime, visit their website: www.bearnyc.com.

BEAR | 12-14 31st Avenue | Long Island City, NY 11106 | phone:917-396-4939

Arts and Science’s Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics, teamed with John Hopkins University and Spain’s Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, has completed a study that clearly illustrates a phenomenon long-sought by astrophysicists.

The research, reported in the latest issue of the Astrophysical Journal, calculated that a star will occasionally pass by a massive black hole—far enough to escape being captured by the black hole, but close enough that the black hole’s extreme force tears the star apart. Although part of the star is absorbed into the black hole, most of it continues in a chaotic orbit, producing intense radiation that could last months.

To read about the study in more detail, click this link.

Our Biology Department recently received a $3.6 Million Grant—and here’s what they're doing with it!

Rice—it’s a food staple for over half of the world’s population, but how is it being affected by global climate change? The Arts and Science Biology Department was recently given a $3.6 million dollar grant by the National Science Foundation’s Plant Genome Research Project to find an answer. With the grant, researchers will use an approach that combines Genomics and Systems Biology to determine how rice reacts to current environmental changes.

Since rice plays such a vital role in the diets of so many across the globe, the plant’s ability to adapt to changes in the environment is critical. Through this four-year study, FAS researchers hope to provide data necessary for developing crops that will thrive in the midst of our world’s changing climate.

Click here to read about the study in more detail.

…and while you’re at it, check out all the programs they have to offer NYU Alumni!

Murray Hidary (WSC ’93) is a NYC-born, modern-day Renaissance man! He is a photographer/ musician/ entrepreneur/ philanthropist with a photographic exhibition in the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development. Through nostalgic imagery of our typical childhood dreams, the body of work “[encourages] the viewer to ask whether their dream, their passion is becoming a reality or fading away with time.”

In addition to photography, Hidary is an accomplished composer and entrepreneur, with fifteen years of experience starting his own companies in the Information Technology sector. Visit Hidary’s bio, which tells more about his entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures!

While you’re at the Wasserman Center, make sure to ask about the many programs and events they have to benefit NYU Alumni! (E.g. career counseling, workshops, the mentoring program and job-shadowing.) For more information visit their website.

FAS Professor of Economics, Thomas Sargent, has been awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Economics, along with Princeton University’s Christopher Sims. Sargent is widely renowned for influencing and revolutionizing the economic strategies of successful capitalist economies over the past two decades. Specifically, he is recognized for coordinating monetary and fiscal policy, stabilizing inflation and fighting unemployment.

According to the Nobel Committee, Sargent has “shown how structural macroeconomics can be used to analyze permanent changes in economic policy. This method can be applied to study macroeconomic relationships when households and firms adjust their expectations concurrently with economic developments. Sargent has examined, for instance, the post-World War II era, when many countries initially tended to implement a high-inflation policy, but eventually introduced systematic changes in economic policy and reverted to a lower inflation rate.”

At NYU, Sargent plays a major role in developing the macroeconomics graduate program, and he teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. We are proud to declare that Sargent is the 24th Nobel Prize winner from the NYU faculty and alumni community!

Follow the link below for more information from NYU’s Press Release announcing the news!

NYU's Sargent Wins 2011 Nobel Prize in Economics

Ari Goldberg is an entrepreneur known for his accomplishments in marketing, branding, business development and new product development. His portfolio includes high-profile brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Wrigley’s and Microsoft, and he has served as VP of Strategy and Business Development for LeBron James and LRMR Marketing and as Director of Business Development for Steve Stoute at Translation Consultation and Brand Imaging.

Goldberg launched StyleCaster (www.stylecaster.com) in 2007, which was later recognized by AOL as, “one of the Five best start-ups of 2009,” and by Advertising Age as, “the Amazon of fashion sites.” StyleCaster aims to, “bring Style to the people” by providing a centralized platform where styles can be shared, discussed and even purchased.

In the Q and A below, Goldberg discusses his experiences at NYU and how they have influenced his professional success and the founding of StyleCaster!

CAS Alumni: What did you major in at NYU?

Ari Goldberg: I have undergraduate degrees in both economics and political science, my master’s degree in sports business from NYU.

CAS: What are some of your best memories from your college years? Favorite hangout spots around campus?


A: My favorite memories are of lunch, dinner and late-night meals at the Corner Bistro, with my best friend who became my first business partner. What I loved about NYU was that you were more of a New Yorker than a regular college kid. We didn't go to New York University, we went to the University of New York, that's what makes NYU so special. I was able to start my first company that focused on strategic marketing and events, The Insight Agency, at the age of 19. A lot of my favorite memories are nights out at NYC hotspots with friends, celebrities in the types of environments you can only find in New York.

CAS: For those who don’t know, can you talk a bit about StyleCaster, and how the idea came about?

A: StyleCaster originated over dinner and drinks with a good friend prior to an event we were hosting with my first company. Since day one, our mission has been to bring “Style to the People.” During that initial conversation, we started talking about a tool that would answer two basic questions: What’s the weather like, and what do I wear? That initial thinking led us to the concept of Content, Community and Commerce in the style space, 4 years later here we are.

CAS: Have you always been interested in fashion?

A: My earliest memories of my grandmother are sitting in the shoe department at Saks and being brought milk and cookies. Maybe it’s genetic. Though I’ve never been a ‘fashionista,’ I’ve come to have great respect for the industry. The minute you realize that for a fashionista, it’s art, not work, is when you can truly understand this space. Also, as a marketer, the dynamic between the consumer and brand in the style space is unparalleled.

CAS: Do you have a favorite designer?

A: Porter Grey. Also an NYU alum and my inspiration for starting StyleCaster.
As for me personally, I’m a simple guy from Cleveland Ohio. I shop at J. Crew, Uniqlo, Surface to Air, and Topshop.

CAS: Can you explain what a tear sheet is?

A: Didn't I just say I’m not a fashionista? I’m not sure I’m the right one to ask about this, but a tear sheet is an image designers and stylists literally tear out and reference as inspiration. I even use tear sheets in my own closet at home. I have a good friend and business partner who taught me the art of the tear sheet. He’s one of the more logical people I know. He said just find pictures of looks you like, tear them out, and match the look for the day.

CAS: Thoughts about the Nike MAGS? Will you be getting a pair?

A: When I was in Kindergarten I skipped a week of school to watch Back To The Future on VHS. My parents still have it. I think Back To The Future, hands down, is the greatest movie of all time. I have a few calls into Nike to try and get a pair.

CAS: While we’re on the subject, if you could travel back to a certain time period, which period (based on fashion of the times) would you want to visit?

A: I like periods like the Edwardian or Inter-War eras when men dressed in tailored, three-piece suits. Annabelle Tolman once told me that men's fashion is all about details, so a good outfit for a man always has details, intricacies and thought to them. I think these periods were a time when men focused on those details.

CAS: NYC Fashion Week recently ended, what were some of the highlights for you?

A: I love seeing the young designers who I’ve known since their inception showing at such a high-level, its awe-inspiring.
StyleCaster’s parties are also up there. At our Unofficial Official NYFW Party, we were able to bring the worlds of technology and fashion together, packing a room with New York’s top entrepreneurs. When Dennis Crowley (CAS '04) tweets about how packed the party is you know something is working.

CAS: For readers who are thinking to themselves, "I'd like to become fashionable" What would your advice be? Is there something one can do to take the first step to becoming a fashionable person?

A: Don’t become “fashionable.” Work on your style instead. Anyone with enough money can become fashionable by walking into Barney’s and buying everything on the mannequin. Real style is if you go to a vintage store first, pick up a piece or two there, grab a t-shirt from American Apparel and then go to Barney’s and put it all together, that’s style.

To find out more about StyleCaster, visit www.stylecaster.com.

Alumni Day 2011, which took place this past Saturday was an exciting and busy day of celebrating NYU’s vibrant history and promising future! The morning began at 8:30am with the Perstare Society’s Annual Induction Breakfast, where we congratulated the class of 1961 as they became a part of this society. Shortly thereafter, everyone paraded down 5th Avenue led by the sounds of bagpipes and drums, and were met at the Washington Square Arch by NYU cheerleaders and an excited crowd.

After the procession, everyone broke off on their own to explore the various Morning Programs scheduled between 10:30-11:30. We particularly enjoyed meeting Darin Strauss (GSAS ’97) who read from his recent memoir, Half a Life, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award.

At noon, alumni gathered at the CAS and GSAS Dean’s Luncheons where Ellen Langer (CAS ’70) and Darin Strauss were presented with the CAS and GSAS Alumni Achievement Awards (respectively). Alumni had an opportunity to catch up with friends and even make some new ones while enjoying a delicious lunch.

From left to right: Gabrielle Starr, Jerry Goldman, Ellen Langer, Tom Kraner

It was wonderful to see so many Arts and Science Alumni come together in celebration of their alma mater. We are always grateful for your support. And a special thank you to Lillian Marks (WSC '28) who continues to participate in Alumni Day every year, including this year’s morning precession through Washington Square.

Lillian Marks (WSC '28) and Gerald Turer (ARTS '48)

Please feel free to visit the CAS Facebook Page to view the full photo album from Saturday’s event.

Katie Kapler (CAS '07) and Nihal Parthasarathi (Stern '08) are two NYU alumni who had a brilliant idea, a site that allows people to find and enroll in classes around New York City. Their idea won them $75,000 in this year's Stern New Venture Competition. We had a chance to ask Katie some questions about NYU and CourseHorse.

CAS Alumni: Can you talk a little about your memories of NYU? Professors who had an impact? Favorite places on campus?

Katie Kapler: I was fortunate enough to have many really stellar professors, but there were primarily two that had a sincere impact on the way I analyze and think. William Easterly turned the world of economic development on its head. It’s easy to digest knowledge and information fed to you by a teacher, boss or some authoritative figure; it’s much more difficult and rewarding to question and investigate the basis of that information. He taught me how to be an analytical student, to really challenge information presented and not simply passively consume media as fact.

The other was Suzanne Cusick. She taught Expressive Cultures: Sound—a class that examines sound and music’s place politically and socially. To be honest, I was only taking it to fulfill the “artsy” requirement of the core curriculum. At first, I was slightly intimidated by the course; if you’ve ever heard me sing, you’d immediately understand why a class on music was a somewhat masochistic choice. I remember in one of the first classes we were tasked with identifying the change in ostinato (a fancy word for tonality). After receiving blank stares from a room of tone-deaf individuals, Suzanne started dancing wildly around the room, changing up her style as the ostinato changed. Anyone walking into the classroom would have thought this gray-haired lady had lost it completely. She was the best educator I had at NYU because she would iteratively adapt her teaching method until we grasped the content. I try to emulate her craft, not only on the dance floor, but also when I present, train and manage. Plus, any class where I can write an entire paper on Nine Inch Nails' "Ruiner" is going to get an A in my book. Overall, I think details, facts, and stats can fade from memory, but these skill-sets – how to teach and how to really listen/learn – have become an invaluable part of my entrepreneurship.

CAS: For those who don't know, can you tell us what CourseHorse is?

K: CourseHorse is a marketplace for local classes, like language, art, social media, cpr, etc. We aggregate course content from local schools so that the user doesn’t have to visit each school’s web site to find information like curriculum, schedule, teacher, location and price. Think of us as the Kayak for local education. People can purchase their spot and enroll directly through our system.

CAS: How did the idea for CourseHorse come about? How did you meet Nihal?

Nihal and I met as opponents in an intramural volley-ball game. I’m pretty sure my team won (and I’m pretty sure Nihal would contest that.) As with the amorphous state of social circles in college, our friend groups merged and we quickly became best friends. We both had a passion for product development – the idea of creating something and learning. It became our ritual to brew an entire pot of coffee and bounce ideas off of one another. We seriously considered another idea in the education space, tried it, tanked it and realized we needed to gain a bit of real world experience before building our own system. After graduation, I headed the product development for a startup launching in the small business services space, Biz2Credit. Nihal went to work for Capgemini as a management consultant within the technology and education sector. He was assigned to revamp a class management system for a major test- prep provider. It was there he saw the potential for an aggregator in the space, called me, picked my brain and here we are!

CAS: What are some of your favorite courses that can be found by searching on your site?

K: I just advanced from beginner to advanced beginner in Argentinian Tango, though I still have an incredible knack for getting under people’s feet. We also recently added Kayaking and Sailing classes and I’m super excited to get out on the river.

CAS: You entered the idea into the New Venture Competition at Stern and won $75,000. What was that experience like?

K: We made the decision to enter the competition as we were submitting our prototype to the development team. We thought “Hey, we’re going to have a business plan prepared anyway, why not give this a whirl?” Of course, we grossly miscalculated the amount of work that would be required of us. At each step in the competition, we’d have additional advisers who would conduct mini stress tests of our business, identify the weak points and send us scrambling back to the drawing board. All the while, we were busy selling to schools and launching our site. It ranks as one of the most intense 2 month periods of my life—in CAS speak, it was like a 2-month long period of Renzi tests (Conversations of the West). That said, we wouldn’t be doing so well right now if it wasn’t for the competition. Money aside, the process of constantly pitching our business to a highly critical, yet talented pool of entrepreneurs and professionals helped us chisel our sales spiels to the point of perfection. We formed great relationships with our mentors and were able to meet some incredible entrepreneurs who might have otherwise been inaccessible.

CAS: Who came up with name and were they a fan of Mr. Ed?

K: Nihal and I were in what seemed like our 100th hour of brainstorming names when one of our friends, who happened to be eavesdropping at the time suggested CourseHorse. We immediately checked on the domain availability and then added it to our list of “maybes” (along with openclasses.com, classo.com, classhound.com, publiclass.com, classpiration.com, classopedia.com, and about 200 others…). We then shortlisted those we thought were memorable and inviting. We wanted the name and the brand to break the stiff, serious vibe that a lot of education-based sites give off. It was also important for it to be something that everyone could remember and for search engine optimization purposes, included the word class or course. When we harassed our family, friends and friends of friends for feedback, CourseHorse outperformed all the others. It was a definite crowd pleaser. When Nihal’s grandmother remembered the name out of the list it pretty much sealed the deal-- that and the fact that our horse looks so great in a tutu.

CAS: What advice would you give to NYU students with dreams of owning an online startup?

K: It’s easy to sell yourself and your experience short when you’re starting a venture, especially if it’s your first startup. It’s also easy to get lost in the massive amount of help content that’s available on the web. It’s much more difficult to trust your gut instinct when you’re a newbie and remember that there are multiple ways to reach a goal. When Nihal and I were first starting out, advisers in the form of VC’s, entrepreneurs, every tech/media blog demanded we have a technical co-founder—so much so that we seriously started to think we should take a break and learn how to code. After we wasted a solid 2 or 3 weeks self-agonizing over the fact that we weren’t churning out php scripts, we ended the pity-party and started building our vision for CourseHorse in a tool that required no technical expertise and created a very true-to-life user experience. We used this prototype for user testing to get the product right and then shipped it to a development team that we contracted. We saved loads of time and equity, and even got a sweet prototype out of the process that I repurposed for sales demos.

Ready to start tap dancing? Want to learn the art of french pastry? Check out some of the great classes available through CourseHorse!

NYU alumnus Adam Kimmel is an American fashion designer, who was born and raised in New York and found his way into fashion through his love of architecture and contemporary art. He founded his brand in 2002 and this week has a new collection premiering with American workwear brand Carhartt. The 29-piece collection of denims and plaids is being sold exclusively at Barneys and is featured in Kimmel's newest viral video:

Please click here to learn more about Adam.

Jamie Wilkinson is an Emmy Award-winning software developer & Internet culture researcher. His work focuses around open-source, pop culture and the propagation of information & ideas online. He is co-creator of the Know Your Meme video series & Internet meme database, selected as one of TIME Magazine's Top 50 websites of 2009, and part of the team behind Star Wars Uncut, a crowdsourced recreation of Star Wars that was awarded an Emmy for Interactive Media in 2010. Wilkinson is also a founding member of the Free Art & Technology (FAT) Lab, an open-source research & development group. Previously Wilkinson taught the "Internet Famous" class in Parsons graduate design & technology program, in which students' grades depend on how much Internet traffic they can generate. Wilkinson's work has been featured in the New York Times, NBC, TIME, CNN, NPR, CurrentTV and on the front page of YouTube.

Click here to listen to our interview with Jamie or click on the player below:

For more information on Jamie Wilkinson and his projects please click here.

*Photo Credit: Scott Beale, Laughing Squid

Every now and then we will come across alumni who are out there pursuing their passion for music. When we found out about Ron Pope (CAS '05) we contacted him and asked him to tell us about his time at NYU and his career path as a musician.

CAS Alumni: Do you have any specific memories of your time at NYU?

Ron Pope: I transferred into NYU after my sophomore year, and never lived in the dorms, so I made it a mission of sorts to meet people right away when I started my junior year. I joined the Songwriters and Performers Society (SAPS) and the Poetry club so that I could meet people with similar interests to mine. In SAPS, we'd get together each week and workshop everyone's new songs. I met a number of musicians in that group that I still work with to this day.

The moment in college that stands out most in my mind is the day I met my best friend, Zach Berkman. He walked into a SAPS club meeting, sat down, played an incredible song, and when he finished, I said, "We're friends now" and we've been buddies (and musical partners) since then. I kind of drafted him.

I used to spend a lot of time in the practice rooms in the Ed building, playing piano and writing songs. I developed a love/hate relationship of sorts with those places...it gets kind of hot and gross in those rooms when you're in there all day, but having access to a piano whenever I needed one was obviously very useful.

CAS: Can you talk a bit about your career path? At what point did you know that you wanted to be a musician? What were the steps you took to break into the music world?

RP: I've always loved music and enjoyed creating it; it's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I knew that I might have a chance at becoming a professional musician at some point during my junior year of college; my friends, who were songwriters that I really respected, all really encouraged me and led me to believe that I was much better than I'd ever thought I was. For a long time, I was following a pretty conventional path. I played in a band, hung up flyers around the city, had club gigs in New York, then went on tour, doing the same sort of thing all over the country. While this was happening, I was also building a fanbase online, by interacting directly with music fans all over the world through social networking sites. Every person who wrote me a message would get a reply back, and I believe that level of personal contact made the fans more invested in the project. Before I knew it, I found myself in the middle of an honest-to-goodness grassroots movement. One fan became two fans, two became four, and so on, until my music had spread out all over the world.

CAS: How would you explain your style of music to someone who hasn't heard it before? Who are some of your music idols?

RP: I do a lot of different things. Some of my songs are big, anthemic rock tunes, others are sparsely arranged acoustic recordings. I grew up loving all sorts of music...blues, country, rap, rock, r&b...I think that comes through in the music I make now.

As a guitar player, Jimi Hendrix has been a huge influence on me (and every other person who has picked up a guitar since 1966). He's the guy that made me want to plug in my guitar, turn it up loud, and rip it apart. Jimi, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy...all those guys influenced my bluesier playing. I also really love the Edge and Jonny Greenwood, in terms of creating unique sonic landscapes and new universes with a guitar. My taste in music is pretty broad. If I put my iPod on shuffle, you might get Sleigh Bells, Bob Dylan, U2, Kanye, Lady Gaga, Robert Johnson, T.I., Guns N' Roses, Taylor Swift, Band of Horses...I just love music and listen to all different kinds.

CAS: We read that you are going to start releasing a single every week starting July 5th through the end of the year? Can you tell us more about that? Are you working on other upcoming projects?

RP: I'm going to release at least one recording every Tuesday for twenty six straight weeks, from July 5th through December 27th. I've recorded all sorts of different tunes for this project...big rock songs, sparse acoustic numbers, blues, more experimental recordings...all kinds of things. This is an exciting project, because by releasing the songs as singles, I've been able to record whatever I'd like without considering whether or not they'll fit together and feel cohesive as an album. Since each song is a stand alone project, it can feel completely different from all the others, which is a very freeing set-up. As these songs are being released, I'll be working on my next full length album, which should be out some time early next year.

CAS: What advice would you give to graduating students who want to pursue a career in music?

RP: Be prepared to struggle. If you can think of anything else in the world that you wouldn't mind doing, do that instead. With that said, if you're going to go for it anyway, the most important thing is to be willing to think outside of the box. The conventional music business is dying a slow, painful death, and the way people consume media is very, very different than it was a generation ago. Jackson Browne once told me this, and I think it's good advice, so I'll pass it along here, "You've got to do it your own way. All the people you remember were original. Follow your gut."

For more information on Ron Pope and to listen to his music be sure to check out his website:http://www.ronpopemusic.com.

The 2011 James Beard Foundation Awards took place earlier this week and we were thrilled to learn that Maricel Presilla (GSAS '79) was nominated for Best Chef- Mid-Atlantic. Maricel is a culinary historian specializing in the foods of Latin America and Spain. She holds a doctorate in medieval Spanish history from NYU and has received formal training in cultural anthropology. She writes a weekly food column for the Miami Herald and owns Zafra and Cucharamama, two pan-latin restaurants in Hoboken, New Jersey. In the fall, she will be opening Ultramarinos, a Latin American food store and cooking atelier, also in Hoboken.

For more information on Maricel and her restaurants please click here.

Most of us played with Lego when we were young. Some of us still play with Lego. Nathan Sawaya makes a living creating incredible Lego sculptures. We had a chance to sit down with him to talk about his memories of NYU and his career as a Lego artist. For more information and to see many of Nathan's sculptures please click here to visit his website.

We're thrilled to be featuring alumnus Cesar Francia this month. We had a chance to ask Cesar some questions about his time at NYU and his current projects.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Cesar graduated from New York University in 2010 with a Bachelors in International Politics. In 2007, he participated in the summer program of the Global Institute for Leadership & Civic Development in Prague Czech Republic, and served as Student Coordinator for the program in 2008. He participated in an NYU Alternative Spring Break Program in the Dominican Republic in 2007, and served as the trip’s Site Leader the following year. As a 2008 Catherine B. Reynolds Scholar in Social Entrepreneurship, he spent a summer interning for Miracle Corners of the World in Rwanda, overseeing the development of small enterprises and the construction of a community center. Cesar has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, and enjoys the exploring the tastes of the world.

CAS Alumni: Tell us about your experience at NYU. What were the highlights? Were there things you accomplished as a student that you are particularly proud of?

Cesar Francia: Being a student at NYU was a dream come true and an incredible platform. My entire four years at NYU were absolutely thrilling and worthwhile. I studied in Florence, Italy my first year through the Liberal Studies Program and traveled all over Europe for the first time in my life. My sophomore year in New York, I interned for Human Rights Watch and obtained the Catherine B. Reynolds Scholarship in Social Entrepreneurship. The Reynolds program was a blessing that allowed me to afford NYU and to explore my interest and passion in the field of social change. Another highlight of my time at NYU was my time as a Resident Assistant (RA) at Palladium, I was able to build a fantastic community with my residents and also led a wonderful Explorations Floor called "Dancing in the Streets of New York." I am particularly proud of having been appointed a Senator-at-Large in the Student Senator's Council my senior year and of having served as Admissions Ambassador for two years.

CAS: What are you working on now? Can you talk about the career path you are taking?

CF: Currently, I am serving as Aide to the Chambers of Justice Sotomayor at the Supreme Court of the United States. In this capacity, I am responsible for overseeing the review of the thousands of petitions for certiorari that are filed with the Supreme Court every term. I assist with the allocation of pool-memo writing assignments to the Justice’s law clerks, keep track of her colleagues’ thoughts on particular cases, provide research that helps her determine the cases from which she must recuse herself, and make sure that the materials she needs for oral argument are properly assembled and placed on the bench before argument. In addition, I assist in setting up her travel and speaking commitments and correspond with the Spanish speaking public that write to her.

I will be attending law school in the Fall and hope to become a attorney operating at the intersection of Social Entrepreneurship and the law. So far, I have been admitted to the University of Chicago Law School and I am waiting to hear back from other schools before making a decision.

CAS: What advice would you give to graduating seniors?

CF: My advice is the following: by virtue of attending one of the most dynamic and nourishing schools in the nation in the capital of the world, you have had experiences that are unparalleled by any other graduating seniors. Harness these experiences, reflect on them and use them as a catalyst to explore your passions and help you translate those into a fruitful career. Take advantage of the NYU Alumni network and all of the resources available to you as alumni. Stay connected with the exciting future of NYU as it grows and gains prominence in the world. But most importantly, remember the motto: " a private university in the public service;" so go do some good in the world in any capacity that best utilizes your talents!

CAS: Congratulations on receiving a 2011 Soros Fellowship! Can you tell us about the importance of scholarship support?

CF: Thanks! As an aspiring lawyer interested in public service work post law school, scholarship support is critical in lessening the financial burden of acquiring massive amount of loans to obtain a JD. I am committed to taking the road less traveled and do not plan on pursuing a career in the traditional law firm path, hence having the support of the Soros Fellowship for New Americans is critical in my exploration of less remunerative internships and job offers without the pressure of having to pay law school debt.

While at NYU, the Reynolds Scholarship was invaluable in allowing me to stay enrolled, I speak about it in this profile.

Cynthia Ozick (left) and Francine Klagsbrun (right).
Congratulations to WSC Alumna Cynthia Ozick, who received the Jewish Book Council's lifetime achievement award at its 60th annual National Jewish Book Award Ceremony on March 9, 2011 at the Center for Jewish History. She received the award from Council president and GSAS alumna, Francine Klagsbrun.

Known primarily for her short stories and novellas, Cynthia Ozick is one of the most celebrated Jewish- American writers of the century.

For more information on Cynthia Ozick, please click here.

Congratulations to GSAS alumnus Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th Dist.) who triumphed over "Watson" in one round of an exhibition match of Jeopardy! sponsored by IBM; he finished the round with 8,600 points to the computer's 6,200. Rep. Holt, a physicist who was a five-time Jeopardy! champion long before he entered the House, parlayed his victory into a call to support math and science education and invest in new technology. His office said the congressman crushed the computer in categories such as phobias, presidential rhymes and laundry detergent, where he knew a three-letter nickname for the Beatles was "Fab", a nickname which could also be used to now describe Rep. Holt.

According to his website:

"Rush is currently the only physicist serving in the United States Congress. He serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Natural Resources, where he has been named the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. This Subcommittee aims to find long-term solutions to the climate crisis by reducing the United States' dependence on fossil fuels."

In addition to being the 15th poet laureate of the United States, a distinguished poet in residence at the NYU Creative Writing Program, and a WSC alumnus, Charles Simic was recently awarded The Vilcek Prize in Literature. The Vilcek Foundation honors and supports foreign-born scientists and artists who have made outstanding contributions to society in the United States.

Charles Simic has published more than sixty books in the U.S. and abroad, among them Jackstraws, which was named a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times; Walking the Black Cat, which was a finalist for the National Book Award in poetry; A Wedding in Hell, Hotel Insomnia, The World Doesn't End: Prose Poems, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Selected Poems: 1963-1983 and Unending Blues. He has also published many translations of French, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, and Slovenian poetry, and four books of essays including Orphan Factory. Elected a Chancellor of The Academy of American Poets in 2000, his many awards include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. He is Professor of English at the University of New Hampshire.

For more information on the 2011 Vilcek Prize recipients, please click here.

On February 8, 2011, Jazz singer-songwriter Rondi Charleston released her new CD, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, the follow-up to her 2008 critically acclaimed release In My Life. Charleston says, "These songs all, in one way or another, reflect some aspect of our collective relationship with time," says Charleston, a life-long admirer of that epic wrestling with and caressing of calendar movement, Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. “Whether it’s a cherished memory of a specific person, place or thing -- past, present or future – I hope to spark people’s subconscious emotions, and in doing so, remind them of just how precious time is.”

After graduating from Juilliard and singing opera professionally, she enrolled in the Master's program at NYU's School of Journalism, beginning a career of investigative news reporting, one which led to Emmy and Peabody Awards for numerous stories. With Who Knows Where the Time Goes Charleston once again combines her singing talent with her love of storytelling to create memorable music.

For more information on Rondi Charleston please visit her website.

Congratulations to alumnus Sydney Levitus, an award-winning oceanographer and researcher at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for being elected as a 2010 Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

According to the NOAA website Levitus is being honored for his "'distinguished contributions' in the areas of ocean sciences, data archaeology and research into the impacts of climate change on the upper ocean."

For more information on Levitus and this honor please visit the NOAA website.

On February 10, 2011, Dr. Fritz Francois will receive the MLK Humanitarian Award for his work on Haitian relief, exactly 50 years after the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech on the campus of New York University that advocated for civil rights and championed nonviolent protest for social change. This event is part of NYU's MLK Week. For more information on Dr. Francois be sure to read the article about him in NYU Alumni Connect.

For a complete list of MLK events please click here.