International House Newsletter for Alumni and Friends
Newsletter • Spring 2007
World Council Sets Goals, Celebrates 40th Annive rsary at 24th Meeting A
t the first World Council of Alumni
W Meeting in 1966 in Lake Como, Italy, 11 alumni came together to examine how they could assist and attract students, raise funds for the House, promote local alumni committees and improve alumni communication.
The World Council of Alumni and Guests at the 24th Meeting in New Delhi, India.
Forty yea rs later, in New Delhi, more than 80 council members, alumni, trustees and guests convened to discuss many of the same issues, celebrate the Co uncil's accomplishments in its forty years and learn about India at the 24th Meeting of the World Council of Alumni. Thanks in part to travel grants provided by I. Ho use Trustees and World Council Co-Chairs,
Sigurdur Helgason' 45 and Adrian Looney '92, alumni from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh joined Council members from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, India, Kenya, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States for the five-day meeting, which began on March 20, 2007. Mahindra and Mahinda, Reliance LLC and the L.W. Frohlich Charitable Trust also provided underwriting for the meeting. A screening of the award-wi nning film "My Mother India" kicked off the formal meeting sessions on March 22. Through the personal story of Patricia Uberoi, an Australian woman who moves to New Delhi after marrying her Indian husband, "My Mother India" explores the history of India's partition and the Sikh riots, and provides insight into its religions and culture. Now Professor of Social Change and
Development at the Institute of Economic Growth, Dr. Uberoi was on hand to present the film and answered audience questions. South Asia was the topic at a session featuring Major Dalbir Singh, National Secretary of the Congress party, who provided a history of democracy in India and noted the challenges its democracy faces today; Ambassador TCA Rangachari, former Indian Ambassador to France, Germany and Algeria, who explored India's foreign policy in the region; and Hasna Moudud '71, President, Coastal Area Resource Development & Management Association, who addressed water-sharing and other prevalent environmental issues threatening the region. Meeting participants learned about India's economy from M. Damodaran, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
International House is sincerely grateful to the following Patrons who supported the 24th World Council of Alumni Meeting. Their generosity, which enabled International House to honor its long-standing relationship with India, serves as a testament to their commitment to promotin g int ernat ional understanding.
v7J:) mahindra
Reliance lndu~trit•H l. imit,-d
The L.W. Frohlich Charitable Trust
Gruwthi, I.if~
Record-Breaking Harry Edmonds Gala Honors Citizens of the World
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INSIDE ► Former Mexican
President Speaks
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nternational House celebrated the 2007 Harry Edmonds Awards Gala at the Rainbow Room in New York's iconic Rockefeller Center on the evening of May 17th. A terrific success, the event raised a record $482,000 for the House and brought together 220 alumni, friends, Trustees, residents and other revelers. The Gala was co-chaired by Trustee and Executive Committee Chairman Bill Rueckert and his wife Fleur and paid tribute to four distinguished individuals and a major multinational corporation. In recognition of his more than 60-year affiliation with International House, Sigurdur Helgason '45 was presented with the Edmonds Award by fellow Trustee Kathleen Burns. Helgason first came to I. House as a resident in 1944 and continued his active involvement as
an alumnus, helping to establish the World Council of Alumni in the 1960s. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1969 and has served with great enthusiasm for nearly four decades. A native of Iceland, Helgason is the retired Chairman of Icelandair, a company he ran for more than 20 years. Chairman and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company, SidneyTaurel '71, received the Edmonds Award from Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President and CEO of The McGrawHill Companies. Born a Spanish citizen in Morocco, Taurel lived at International House while pursuing his MBA from Columbia Business School. He joined Eli Lilly, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, shortly after graduating and rose to head the company in 1998.
► Resident Gift
Campaign Sets Record
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► In Memoriam:
Gerald R. Ford p.S
Don and Bonnie Cuneo with James Press from Toyota
Harold McGraw III presents the Edmonds Award to Sidney Taurel '71
Ambassador and Dr. Taylor with Chairman Paul A. Volcker and Sigurdur Helgason '45
Taurel sits on a number of corporate boards and is a Trustee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, an Overseer for Columbia Business School and an Officer of the French Legion of Honor. The Consul General of Canada in New York, Ambassador Daniel Sullivan, presented Edmonds Awards to I. House International Trustee Ambassador Kenneth D. Taylor and his wife, Dr. Patricia E. Taylor. As the Canadian Ambassador to Iran during the hostage crisis that began in 1979, Ambassador Taylor secured a place in history by helping six Americans escape from Tehran. He joined the I. House Board in 1985 after being appointed Canadian Consul General to New York. Dr. Taylor was instrumental in helping to establish the Women's International Leadership (WIL) Program at the House in 1990 and has served as the Chair of the WIL Advisory Council since 1993. As an Associate Director of the New York Blood Center's National Cord Blood Program, Dr. Taylor is at the forefront of research in transfusion medicine benefiting millions. Toyota Motor Corporation was also honored, and the President of Toyota Motor North America, James Press, accepted the Edmonds Award from I. House Chairman Paul A. Volcker. As Mr. Volcker noted in h is remarks, Toyota is the first corporation to be presented with
President's Message
A
nother academic year has come to a close
international student on the campus of Columbia
at International House, and I am inspired
University. Today's worldwide network of individuals
once again by the enthusiasm and active
who share a common I. House history-including
participation of this year's resident members. From
I
longstanding I. House traditions like the All Nations
to understand what membership in this supportive
Celebration and Sunday Suppers to resident-driven
global community means for them-is what keeps
activities like Salon Nights, roundtable discussions,
this spirit alive and carries its message forward for
the I. House Tutorial Program and more, members
the next generation of residents.
of our lively, engaged community came together time
So, as we settle into our summer tempo here at
and again to live the spirit of I. House and celebrate
the House, I look forward to having time to further
diversity in myriad ways.
reflect upon the meaningful moments I've shared
I am reminded, too, through my frequent interac-
World Newsletter A newsletter fo r Alumni and Friends
Yol. 42,No. 2
those still living at the House who are just beginning
with residents and alumni throughout the last year
tions with alumni from as far back as the 1930s, that
and to prepare to begin the cycle anew by welcoming
the I. House experience has a lasting impact on nearly
a host of new faces to the House in the fall.
all who have the opportunity to participate in it. Our
Even as the names, personal histories, expecta-
mission to facilitate greater cross-cultural cooperation
tions and cultural experiences differ from person
and understanding is espoused not only by residents
to person and year to year, the House's commitment
during their days at the House; these ideals become
to promoting international brotherhood and sister-
an integral part of a broader world view once resi-
hood remains constant, ensuring that each new group
dents venture out into all parts of the world. This
of talented, diverse residents have access to extraordi -
A publicatio n of International House Office of Development & Al umn i Relatio ns 500 Riverside Drive NewYork,NY 10027-39 16
was abundantly clear at our recent World Council
nary opportunities that prepare them well for their
of Alumni meeting in India where the more than
futures in an increasingly interconnected world. I am
100 attendees, many of whom had never before met,
constantly impressed and inspired by them, and am
shared stories about their I. House days as if they
grateful to the thousands of other members across
were old friends and conducted council business in
the globe who have helped further the mission of
Staff
consensus-building and culturally-sensitive ways.
I. House for 83 years.
JO II N A. W ELLS
Director of Development & Alum ni Relations
It is extremely reassuring to witness firsthand how the mission and ideals oflnternational House
ANDRll ALLAIRE
Assistant Director of Develop ment fo r Individua l Giving
continue to have currency and resonance 98 years after Harry Edmonds' chance encounter with an
NICOLE DAVIDSON
Assistant Director of Development for Alumni Relatio11S CATHY GALON
Database Manager CYNTHI A KA PPIL T HEK
Assista nt Director of Development fo r Institutional Giving
The 24th Meeting of the World Council of Alumni
Photographers )ACK IE CARPENTER MICHAEL DAMES R IC KALLAHER KATHERINE SCHLOZNIKOVA
Visit o ur Web Site http://www.ihouse-nyc.org To Reach Us Development & Al umn i Relations Office (2 12) 316-8423 Fax (212) 316-84 16 e-mail: alumni@ihouse-nyc.org Programs Office (212) 316-8438 Fax: (2 12) 316-7 181 e- mail: programs@ihouse-nyc.org Adm issio ns Office (2 12) 316-8436 Fax: (2 12) 316- 1827 e- mail: admissions@ihouse-nyc.org
Don Cuneo, World Co uncil Co-Chairs Sigurdur Helgason '46, Klaus Moessle '85 and Adrian Looney '92, and Harjiv Singh '02 cut a cake to commemorate the Council's 40th Anniversary.
Nadia Ishaq '05, Nan cy Wright '90, Ashok Banerjee '00, Erika Howard Do/mans '87 and Alyson King '00.
Public Room Rentals (212) 3 16-8465 Guest Suite Ren tals (212) 316-8436 As a nonp rofi t orga nization, a copy of our most recent annua l financia l report is available from the Department of State Office of Charities Registration, Albany, NY 1223 1 or from the President's Office International House 500 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10027-3916
International House Panelists Dalbir Singh, Hasna Moudud '71 and Ambassador TCA Rangachari.
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Presiden t Don Cuneo, International Trustee Nand Khemka '56 and World Council member Mi/ind Gadkary '62.
Zedillo Closes Globalization Series TRUST PERPETUATES "BILL" FROHLICH'S LEGACY OF SUPPORT AT I. HOUSE "International House is an idea, a plan, a way of life, a concept of joint experience that, to paraphrase the words of James Harrington, was not conceived to be a frail hot-house flower in a great pot, but rather a large, windblown tree with the earth for her roots and heaven for her branches." The late L. W. "Bill" Frohlich '37, spoke these words to fellow I. House alumni in Lake Como, Italy, in 1966. He embraced this vision ofTnternational House as a vibrant, enduring entity with far-reaching sway and passionately strived to promote it during his lifetime. Sadly, he died in 1971 after a long illness, but the L.W. Frohlich Charitable Trust has ably carried on his legacy for over three decades, serving as a steadfast supporter of International House and its ideals. Mr. Frohlich first came to the United States as an exchange student from Frankfurt, Germany in the 1930s, and later, with his sister Ingrid moved to New York after the Nazi regime took hold in Germany. Brother and sister both lived at International House while he studied at Columbia University. He later founded L.W. Frohlich Intercon International, Inc., one of the largest international advertising agencies in the health care field at that time. He also owned a network of FM radio stations throughout the country. Bill Frohlich strongly believed that the future oflnternational House greatly depended on its ability to build a robust network of alumni support. Elected to the Board in 1962, he was asked to chair the first Alumni Homecoming in 1964 and subsequently became the Chairman of the Alumni Council. In this role he guided the growth of the alumni association and was instrumental in creating the alumni newsletter and the Passport of International House Friends (a publication for traveling members of the I. House family, which no longer exists). He also organized and conducted two alumni conferences - one in Lake Como, Italy in 1966 and another in Kyoto, Japan in 1970. The seed he planted during those meetings has developed into a strong worldwide organization called the World Council of Alumni with members in 40 countries. The L. W. Frohlich Charitable Trust's support of I. House reflects Mr. Frohlich's devotion to International House and the projects that were of keen interest to him.
The Trust has provided over $1.2 million in operating and capital funds to I. House since its inception, including the establishment of the L.W. Frohlich Health Care Endowment Fund in 1985 to support health and fitness programs at I. House. Its leadership role during I. House's capital campaigns set a splendid example for longtime supporters and a rousing challenge for new ones. International House named The Bill Frohlich Gymnasium and Physical Fitness Center in honor of the Trust's extraordinary generosity. Additionally the Trust also provides a substantial annual grant to International House to support the Summer Fellows Program. Echoing Bill Frohlich's efforts to foster greater alumni involvement in the affairs of the House, the Trust sponsored two World Council of Alumni Meetings - the gathering in South Africa in 2000 and the more recent conference held in New Delhi. "I had the privilege of knowing Bill Frohlich when he was a Trustee during my resident years, and was profoundly inspired by his commitment to International House," said Don Cuneo, President oflnternational House. "The L. W. Frohlich Charitable Trust's continued support makes a significant difference in our ability to realize Bill's vision ofl. House as a progressive force for cultural exchange." International House's relationship with the Trust has been further enhanced by the extraordinary service of Kathleen Burns, Bill Frohlich's niece, on the I. House Board. A longtime Co-Chair of the House Committee, Ms. Burns also served as Co-Chair of the Programs & Resident Life Committee and as a member of the Nominati ng and Executive Committees. The Trust recently made a $75,000 naming gift in honor of her twenty years of service to renovate a hub of resident activity, the Riverside Foyer, which was renamed as the Kathleen Burns Foyer in June. "The Trust is delighted to support efforts in developing future global leaders;' said Ms. Burns, who along with her mother, Ingrid Burns, sister Madeleine Burns, and Richard B. Leather, serve as Directors of the Trust. "International House meant a great deal to Uncle Bill;' she said, "and I know he would be proud of what the House has done and continues to do in the field of international educational exchange."
Former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo told an International House audience on April 10 that globalization is an inexorable phenomenon that can be slowed down to some extent but cannot be undone even by a breakdown in international trade negotiations. Zedillo, speaking as the 2007 David Rockefeller International Visitor, traced President Ernesto Zedillo, Cesar Vichido of the history of globalization Mexico and Elizabeth Briones of Peru. and tied its future success to the outcome of the Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations, which have been stalled since 2006. A successful outcome of the Doha round is in serious doubt, Zedillo said, because of the late-June expiration of the 2002 trade act approved by the US Congress. Zedillo said he hoped that broad trade authority is extended and that negotiations can continue. "The possibility of failure seems somewhat paradoxical if one looks at the benefits the integration process has brought thus far," he said. The former president, currently the Director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, underscored the resilience of globalization by noting the performance of the world economy during the troubled times since 2000. He said that on balance the global economy is doing OK, "in spite of bad policies by some countries;' thanks to international integration and interdependence. While he said globalization is unstoppable, Zedillo noted potential risks which he said could challenge its growth and result in reversals, including a sharp rise in global inflation, a global public pandemic, nuclear terrorism and climate change. In his introduction, Chairman Paul A. Volcker noted that his leadership of the US Federal Reserve had coincided with Zedillo's tenure at the Central Bank of Mexico. "He revolutionized the economy and political system of his country;' said Volcker. Zedillo's talk was the concluding event in this year's programmatic theme of globalization, whose previous speakers included Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz.
Board Gives Cuneo Extended Leave The I. House Board of Trustees has given President Don Cuneo a well-deserved extended break this summer. Starting after the June 14th Board meeting and continuing through the October 18th Board meeting, Cuneo and his wife Bonnie will be spending most of their time at their home in Lakeville, CT as they prepare for son Lane's entry into Connecticut College and daughter Kristen's wedding in the fall. Executive Committee Chairman William D. Rueckert said the leave was offered in recognition of Cuneo's nearly 14 years of outstanding leadership and achievements, including the extensive renovations of I. House South completed last year. During Cuneo's absence, Development Director John A. Wells will serve as Acting President.
RESIDENT MEMBER GIFT CAMPAIGN SETS PARTICIPATION RECORD
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he 4th annual Resident Member Gift Campaign set a participation record with 366 resident donors this year. This represents a 27.5% increase over last year's participation when 287 resident members contributed. The 2006-2007 resident members selected an endowed scholarship as their gift, which will be given out annually to a resident member with demonstrated financial need who has shown outstanding commitment to the I. House community. Led by third-year residents Martha Voulgari of Greece and Ladan Samar-Bakhsh of Iran, the campaign raised funds through individual solicitation and a successful bike auction and garage sale. Challenged by the Trustees to reach certain participation levels by specific dates, the residents responded robustly, meeting each of them, the last being participation by 350 residents donors by May 5. By reaching this last goal, Trustee and alumnus Robert van Zwieten '87 donated
an additional $1,500 to tl1e Campaign. The Trustees also challenged the residents to raise $4,000, which they surpassed by raising $5,840. At the Candlelight Sunday Supper on May 6, SamarBakhsh and Voulgari announced that with $4,000 in Trustee challenge grants, the 2006-2007 Resident Members had raised $9,840.64 for their scholarship. Fast becoming an I. House tradition, the Resident Member Gift Can1paign is an important way for current residents to learn about and participate in philanthropy to the House. Each year, International House relies on private donations of $1 million to meet the gap between expenses and revenue and provide engaging programs and scholarships and maintain its facilities. "Participation at any level by all members of the community brings the House closer to meeting its goals;' said President Cuneo. "This tremendous participation
by the 2006-2007 resident members is a resounding vote of confidence in the House and helps provide a strong foundation for the House's future financial security."
The 2006-2007 Resident Member Gift Campaign Committee signs the commemorative check they presented to President Cuneo at the Candlelight Sunday Supper.
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hrough the Decades 19 Os Barbara Rosen '36 is 92 years old and has 5 children, 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. While she has had some health issues of late, she enjoys making stained glass windows, quilts and hangings.
Eric Kisch '62 still conducts a weekly radio show "Musical Passions" which airs on WCLV-FM Sunday mornings at 11 in Northeast Ohio. He calls it a great new career to keep quiet retirement a pleasant fiction.
Shuya Takahashi '72 recently became a grandfather. Richard Paegelow '73 serves as President and Managing Director of Inline Translation Services located in Glendale, CA.
Kathryn Davis '32 Turns 100 Kathryn W. Davis visited International House again in May to attend a luncheon for current and former recipients of the Harry Edmonds Award. Mrs. Davis has visited the House many times since she and her husKathryn Davis '32 band, the late Shelby Cullom Davis, were residents in 1932, but this was her first visit as a centenarian. Mrs. Davis turned 100 on February 25th, and the event did not go unnoticed. Celebrations began in New York last fall, and continued in Geneva, Potsdam, Antigua and Hobe Sound, Florida. She was feted by the Women's National Republican Club, The EastWest Institute, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Aldo Busot '49 and his wife Adriana Busot celebrated their Emerald Wedding Anniversary (55 Years) on September 21, 2006.
Yves Biry '51 is bearing graciously the years in good health and spirits with the love of family and friends. Noor Lakhdhir '55 retired from Pitney-Bowes some time ago, while his wife Ann Hallan Lakhdhir '56 is still active with the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace & Security at the UN, serving as its vice president for programs. Martha Wheeler '55 has continued to study French through courses at the French Institute and leading a French Playreading group since retirement in the late 1980's from Baccarat Crystals. In addition to volunteer work, she is active in a sailing club. Yoshiyuki Kawashima '58 has not completely retired from work and still enjoys two consulting jobs and serving on the boards of several organizations. Neil McKelvie '58 was a contestant in the 2007 Boston Outstanding An1ateur Pianists in May.
Anne Morganstern '60 retired in 2004 after teaching History of Art at Ohio State University for 31 years. She continues her research on French Gothic sculpture, and has published one book, "Gothic Tombs of Kinship;' Penn State University Press, 2000. She is now working on a second book.
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An exhibition of her paintings also took place in Geneva, and additional celebrations were held at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach and the Lighthouse Center for the Arts in Tequesta, Florida. Her birthday presents included a new red bicycle. "I've gathered enough good wishes to energize a new five-year plan;' Mrs. Davis proclaimed, adding that her dictum is "I want results in my lifetime." Her initiative 100 Projects for Peace has captured the imagination of students in 76 colleges nationwide. At I. House, the sprightly Mrs. Davis entertained the guests with reminiscences of her days as a resident, insights gained during a life well lived, and her own take on what her late husband used to call "the spirit of I. House:' 'TU remind you," said Mrs. Davis, "that there are 39,000 languages, 193 countries and 270 religions but just one humanity and one earth!"
John Finney '63 is an executive secretary of COPE, a local affordable counseling service. He is also a trustee of the Mountainside Hospital Foundation. Jeong Kil Kim '63 will be teaching International Relations at College of Law and Administration, Kyonggi University in Seoul. He is still buying many new books and reading hard "as if I am a college student." Joan Yasuda '63 retired as an elementary school counselor for the state of Hawaii. Recently, she has traveled to several Scandanavian countries, China, Tibet, South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan. Carolyn Zepf Hagner '66 is the founder/director of the Northern Kentucky University Summer Piano Institute, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in July 2006. Carolyn is a professor of music at NKU where she has taught since 1979. www. music. nku. edu!spi
Youssef Khodaparast '80 has been an Economics Professor at Portland University College since 1987. Prior to that, he finished his Ph.D. at Portland State University. He hopes to visit I. House again soon.
Tina Kanagaratnam '85 is Chief Editorial Officer of AsiaMedia Ltd., a media consultancy in Shanghai. Michael Stotts '86 has joined the management of Hartford Stage as Managing Director. Keri-Lynn Wilson '87 divides her conducting career between symphony orchestras and opera productions. In recent seasons she conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony and the Toronto Symphony. Joseph Wiggett '88 is now Dr. Wiggett, Prof. of Voice and Opera, California State U. Stanislaus in the Central Valley of California.
Kimilee Bryant '91 is currently performing in "The Pirate Queen;' which opened on April 5, 2007 at New York City's Hilton Theatre.
David Sullivan '96 and Su Yon Sullivan were married in January. The couple is living in New York City. Balazs Schanda '97 welcomed a daughter Eva-Bianka in September.
Heather Forrest '01 gave birth to her second child in January. She is currently living in Columbus, Ohio and raising her family. She would love to hear from fellow alumni. Alex Mitro '03 has returned to his hometown of Bratislava. After working in banking at Citigroup for several years, he has joined KPMG Slovakia in their financial services practice. He focuses on helping banks and other financial institutions with their preparations for the Euro changeover, which is scheduled for Slovakia in January, 2009. Peter Cronin '04 spent six weeks in Sierra Leone with the International Rescue Committee working on an education program in February and is currently in Bangladesh doing data collection for his dissertation research. He'll be returning to New York to finish his Ph.D. in late May.
Sally Staley '80 was promoted to Chieflnvestment Officer for Case Western University in Ohio. Maria Sanmiguel '82 is an international awardwinning master teacher, director, actor, producer, and performing arts judge. She is a Professor and the Founding Director of the International Artistic & Cultural Exchange Program (IACE) of the Department of Theatre &Dance. Mark Gustavson '83 teaches composition, theory and ear training at Brooklyn College Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts. You can find out what he's been up to on his website, www.panix. com/-pg/mgustavson.
Michael Nagel '67 is Senior Adviser to the Russian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, Director to the Elysian Natural Resource Fund and Director to BIA Investor Relations.
Michele Montas-Dominique '71 who has been the chief of the French Unit of United Nations Radio, was recently appointed spokeswoman for the new United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.
Michael Galligan '85 is a partner in the New York City firm of Phillips Nizer LLP , where he focuses on domestic and international estates and trusts, estate planning, probate and immigration. He chairs the New York State Bar Associations Committee on International Trusts and Estates and is a director of the United Nations Association of New York.
CheleJimenez-Jele '87 and Mercedes Gertz '87 met up with Tracy Wilson '87 ( not pictured)
in Paris last fall for an impromptu I. House Reunion.
Adilia Daminova '03 married
Christopher Hornek on Ap,-il JO, 2007 in Konstanz, Germany. The couple now resides in Austria. Sarah Siddiqui '04 is currently working as an Economist at the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the Department of Commerce. She launched ZaMZaM Arts with a production of The Gilgamesh Project with KinanAzmeh '04 and Kevork Mourad at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in Maryland. Nyasha Griffith '05 will run her first half marathon in June to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society in San Diego. She will be attending law school in the fall. Indira Mota 'OS recently completed a Certificate of Advanced Study program in School Administration and was selected as Assistant Principal to open a new middle school, the School for Diplomacy, in the Bronx in tl1e 2007-2008 Academic School Year. She is looking forward to completing a Ph.D. at Harvard in School Leadership after a few years in school administration in NYC. Stefano Bini '06 passed the bar exam and is practicing law in Florence, Italy.
On April 18, Women's International Leadership Program Adviso,-y Council Member and WTL Alumna Lucylee Chiles '92, Former Director of Programs and founder of the WIL Program Ellie Speigel and current WIL Grantee Aida Izadpanah Jahromi from Iran attended a lecture by WIL Alumna Caroline Sawyer '92, Professo,- of World Religions and Islamic History at the State University of New York at Old Westbury, entitled "Iran's Cultural Heritage in Light of Present Events" at the Leonia, New Jersey Library.
Huda Seif '93 is living in the Sudan and working for the UN on gender issues in several Sudanese regions including Darfur. Christina Hill '96 married Kurt Hill and has two children Sadie, 5 and Drew, 3. She is the director and owner of an agency that provides behavior tl1erapy to individuals with developmental disabilities. Ahmed Nassar '96 recently purchased an ophthalmology practice and founded Eye Specialists of Georgia. He and wife Rachel Bolduc '96 have two children-Athena (5) and Alexander (1).
Yuko Nonoyama '04 is very grateful to the wonderful 3 years she spent at I. House. She finished her Ph.D. at Columbia University last year, and is currently working at UNICEF in the field of early childhood development.
Emeka Chinwuba '06 recently passed the NY state bar exam and has been offered a position with Sherman Sterling. Salrna Ismail '06 is a Youth Project Assistant at UNFPA in Pakistan. She will be representing Pakistan at the International Human Rights Training Program in Canada in June 2007. Victor Sutan '06 is living in Folsom, California and working for Intel as a ASIC Component Engineer.
Lara Wallentine '05 (USA), David Dencker '05 (Denmark), Rachel Logan '05 (United Kingdom), Anant Nath '05 (India) and Thomas Dundas '05 (Australia) met for a reunion in New York City in April.
They spent two weeks reliving their old memories of the city and I. House and catching up with friends. Pictured here with Roy Wiesner '05 (thi,-d from left), this gathering has become a tradition with these I. House mates as Lara, Thomas, David and Anant, along with Gabriela Arbulu '05 from Peru met in India for 3 weeks in Febrnary 2006. The 1. House World Team, as they have fondly labeled themselves, are planning future reunions in Australia, Peru, Denmark and the UK.
In Metnoriatn Ford's Years as I. House Chairman Recalled
Roscoe Lee Browne '56 Remembered Acclaimed actor and I. House alumnus Roscoe Lee Browne, who lived at International House in the late 1940s and again in the mid- 1950s, died in Los Angeles on April 11th at the age of 81. Browne, whose acting talents resulted in an Emmy Award and a Tony nomination, died at CedarsSinai Medical Center of cancer, according to a famil y spokesperson . Browne's distinctive voice a rich baritone - is fa miliar to generations ofl. House residents as the narrator of the 1949 promotional film that is shown each year at orientation. That same voice could be heard narrating the hit movie "Babe." But his career ranged from classic theater to seventies sitcoms. Born in Woodbury, New Jersey, Brown e graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he later returned to teach comparative literature and French. He also was a track star, winning the 880-yard run in the 1952 Millrose Gam es. Browne became a full-time actor in 1956 when he had a role in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of "Julius Caesar" during its inaugural season. In 196 1, he starred in an English-language version of Jean Genet's play "The Blacks;' a Broadway landmark.
John J. Smalhout '40 Bethesda, MD
Violet M. Rosehill ' 53 Kaneohe,HI
Marjorie S. Muehlke '68 Gilford,NH
Eleanor M. Knobloch '40 Louise Murakami '53 Redmond, WA Honolulu, HI
Doris I. Allen '7 1 Little Falls, NJ
Agnes M. Krarup '42 Gilbert,AZ
Helen L. Ullrich '54 Canton,OH
Abdalla El-Wakil '75 Alexandria, Egypt
Hadassah G. Salu '44 Charlottesvle, VA
Ljerka Puree '59 Zagreb, Croatia
Simon Mawondo '96 Harare, Zimbabwe
Erik Gronseth '47 Nesbru, Norway
Branko Calija '68 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dirk Faulenbach '03 Berlin, Germany
Blanche W. Jefferson '52 Na ples,FL
The numerous tributes and accolades made upon the death of the late Gerald R. Ford included many references to his service as a Congressman, Vice President and President of the United States, as well as his post-presidential activities. While it was not mentioned at the services in Washington or on news programs covering the event, Gerald Ford's term as Chairman oflnternational Gerald Ford presides over a Board Meeting in 1985. House gave him ample opportunity to display the qualities of"sincerity, serenity and integrity" noted by former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger in his eulogy at the National Cathedral. Kissinger served as I. House Chairman for eight years before stepping down in 1985, and when searching for a successor, the Board of Trustees found the perfect candidate in the former U.S. President: a respected world leader of impeccable personal reputation. Ford had ties to the House through Kissinger, who served as Secretary of State during his administration, and to the Rockefeller family through his Vice President, Nelson A. Rockefeller. The current Chairman, Paul A. Volcker, said that Ford's agreeing to lead the I. House board was characteristic of the man. "For all its merits, I. House is not a highly visible or wealthy institution;' said Volcker. "But Gerald Ford was never attracted by flash or glamour. What he could sense - what he always represented in his own persona - was a certain integrity of purpose and effectiveness in action. Happily, I. House has met those criteria, and we take pride in President Ford's active support:' Those who served on the Board with him echoed the sentiments expressed by many regarding Ford's personal decency and calm leadership style. He was welcomed as Chairman at a Welcome Sunday Supper in January, 1985, an atmosphere of celebration. "Remember your convictions, respect the convictions of others;' he said then. "Have faith in the decency of others. Make the whole planet as full of friendship as this room is tonight." A hallmark of Ford's chairmanship was his interaction with residents at official events, and in meetings with members of the Residents' Council. He engaged in candid questionand-answer sessions in which he addressed foreign policy issues of the day as well as issues from his term as president. And despite living in Rancho Mirage, California, he presided over all but one board meeting during his term. It was during Ford's chairmanship that International House pursued the purchase of Van Dusen Hall - now known as I. House North - from Union Theological Seminary in the late 1980s. The complicated deal was not consummated until several months after Ford retired as Chairman in January of 1989. In a letter to then-Executive Committee Chairman Stephen C. Eyre after the deal was finalized, Ford called the acquisition "the most outstanding accomplishment of my fouryear association with the Board of Trustees." Ford helped secure his succession as Chairman by John C. Whitehead, who stepped down as Deputy U.S. Secretary of State at the conclusion of the Reagan administration in early 1989. A farewell Sunday Supper was held in Ford's honor on January 18th, 1989. "I will always look back fondl y upon my years as Chairman;' he said, "and will forever hold the residents and mission of this House close to my heart."
He won an Obie Award in 1965 for his role as a rebellious slave in the off-Broadway "Benito Cereno." In movies, he was a spy in the 1969 Alfred Hitchcock feature "Topaz" and a camp cook in 1972's "The Cowboys;' which starred John Wayne. On television, he had several memorable guest roles in "All in the Family" and "Soap" among others. He won an Emmy in 1986 for a guest role as Professor Foster on "The Cosby Show." In 1992, Browne returned to Broadway in "Two Trains Running;' one of August Wilson's acclaimed series of plays on the black experience. It won the Tony for best play and brought Browne a Tony nomination for best-featured actor. Browne lived at International House on and off for nine years and returned to the House in 1996 to deliver a eulogy at a memorial service fo r his old fri end, I. House President Emeritus Howard A. Cook. In 2002, alumna Thea Petschek Iervolino '48 recalled seeing Browne speak at a benefit luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria in New Yo rk. Spotting her in the audience, Browne came to her table and said of their I. House years: "You and I were living in the same place during the best years of my life."
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lround the World WORLD COUNCIL ELECTS SEVEN NEW MEMBERS In January and at its meeting in March, the World Council elected seven new members from four countries. Haroon Hassan '03 is the elected inaugural Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of International House, United Kingdom alumni chapter. He has been instrumental in providing direction for the chapter, reaching out to London based alumni, organizing its first events and in registering the chapter as a charity in the UK. Haroon lived at International House while pursuing his LLM at Columbia. Raised in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, Haroon is now a solicitor for Schillings, a boutique media law firm, in London. Nicolas Kahale '81 is a trustee of Friends of I. House, United Kingdom and has assisted in registering that chapter as a charity. Nicolas is Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Originally from Beirut, Nicolas lived at International House while pursuing his MBA at Columbia University. He also holds degrees from the American University of Beirut and University College of the University of London.
Elizabeth Katkin '92 lived at International House while pursuing her law degree as a Zuckerman Scholar at Columbia University. She is a partner at Hogan & Hartson LLP, one of the top international law firms, practicing in London and Moscow and focusing on securities and business transactions for U.S. and international clients. She is a member of the Board of Advisers of Russia's first world-class business school, the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo. With the pro bona assistance of Hogan & Hartson, Friends of International House, United Kingdom has been formally established as a charitable entity, with Elizabeth serving as one of its three Trustees. John Naughton '80 is coordinator of the Ford Foundation's GrantCraft project. Naughton served as International House's Development Director from 1990 to 1997 and previously as Associate Director of Development and Admissions Coordinator. John is currently a member of the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees, and has served on numerous I. House benefits committees. In addition to working at International House, John also lived at the House while studying economics at Columbia University.
Peter Paone '96 is the Past President of the New York Area Alumni Council. He was appointed president in 2004 and stepped up to again fulfill this role in 2005. Through his involvement with NYAAC, he has hosted Walk on Wall Street sessions, served as a volunteer for Professional Interest Night and founded NYAAC's International House Day. He has also served on the 75th Anniversary Capital Campaign Alumni Committee and on numerous benefit committees. Peter received his MBA from Columbia University while living at the House. Alex Pang '06 was the co-chair of the 2005-2006 Resident Member Gift Campaign, which raised a record $10,345. Alex lived at I. House while pursuing his MBA at Fordham University and again while interning at Ardour Capital Investments. A native of Malaysia, Alex is currently living in Singapore and hopes to establish a scholarship for South East Asian residents to help increase representation from that region as well as increase area alumni activities.
World Council Sets Goals, Celebrates 40th Anniversary at 24th Meeting • continued from page 1 In a discussion with Mitra Kalita, National Editor for Mint Newspaper, a subsidiary of The Wall Street Journa~ Damodaran highlighted India's strengths across the manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, financial and technology sectors, which along with India's democracy, English speaking middle class and large 18-30 demographic are contributing to its accelerated growth, he said. Members delved deeper into the robust real estate sector with an address by Mahesh Gandhi, Director ofTrikona Capital, a leading real estate fund management firm with ventures in residential, infrastructure, commercial and hospitality real estate. India's tertiary education system and its major institutions was a topic of great interest among participants as exhibited by an animated question and answer session with ML Singla, Professor of Management and Dean of Alumni Affairs and Examinations at the University of Delhi, Veena Ravikumar '83, Professor of Political Science at Lady Shri Ram College, a university for women in New Delhi, and Jane Schukoske, Executive Director of the United States Educational Foundation in India on March 23. Following the higher education panel, participants met with students and educators at a luncheon at the India Habitat Center, where the sessions were held. The luncheon was followed by a discussion with Indian alumni, JR Hiremath '52, Sreemati Chakrabarti '81, Anant Nath '05 and moderated by Harjiv Singh '02, who shared their favorite I. House memories and reflected on the House's influence on their lives today. While the sessions provided an academic education, meeting participants also learned about India by experiencing it. A highlight of the week was a special visit to the Radico Welfare Center, a school for children from some of Delhi's poorest areas, which also offer social services to their families. The children greeted the group and dazzled them with a variety of singing, dancing and marshal arts performances. Alumni took in the sights of New Delhi with visits to the Hauz Khas ruins, Qutab Minar, and India Gate. They also traveled to Agra to visit the world famous Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, an aweinspiring experience. The meeting provided numerous opportunities for socializing with local alumni. World Council
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member Harjiv Singh '02, who was instrumental in organizing the meeting, along with his family, hosted the participants at a reception at the Delhi Golf Club. Beneath a shower of rose petals and fireworks, the Council celebrated its 40th anniversary at a dinner hosted by International Trustee and World Council member Nand Khemka '56 and his wife Jeet at the Garden of Five Senses. In addition to delicious Indian cuisine, alumni engaged in henna painting, fortune telling and dancing. Council members were welcomed by Clayton Bond, North India Programs Officer and Ted Osius, Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the US Embassy to their home for a fitting reception to conclude the meetings' affairs in New Delhi. Osius, whose sister had lived at the House in 1983, was deemed an honorary alumnus when it was learned he had stayed at the House for one night with her. The meeting concluded with a final session at the Neemrana Fort Palace, located 100 km outside of New Delhi. Set into a mountain, the palace offered spectacular views and a serene setting in which to discuss the state of the House and to evaluate the goals set forth at the last Council meeting. The Council also agreed to several new goals. In the area of fundraising, members set a goal of increasing the level of participation by council members in the annual fund by 5% each fiscal year until 100% participation is reached. In evaluating its networking activities, the Council decided to proceed in India and Australia, previously identified chapter sites, with increased activity, but recognized the need for further evaluation of whether a chapter represented the best structure for these areas. The Council agreed to strengthen existing alumni chapters in New York, Germany and Canada and increase alumni activity in France and Japan (high concentrations of alumni) and major metropolitan areas in the United States such as San Francisco, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston. Sigurdur Helgason '45, an original member of the World Council, closed the 24th Meeting, noting that the Council was making great progress and had come a long way since it first gathered in 1966. The World Council will meet next in New York City in June 2009.
Belgian alumni gathered at the home of World Council Members Maurits and Erika Dolma11s '87 for a wine and cheese reception 011 March 3, 2007. Twenty plus alumni attended while a group of 12 conti11ued the festivities over dinner at a nearby restaurant. Acclaimed violin st Sabina Rakcheyva '04 treated the attendees to an intimate recital of some of her work.
The New York Area Alumni Council held its Annual Professio11al Interest Night on February 15 at International House. Beloved by both residents a11d a/u111ni, PIN provides an informal reception where residents spoke to alumni about their career options, the job search, day-to-day activities of certain positions and other topics related their future careers. Alumni also networked and reminisced about their times at the House. Pictured /1ere NYAAC Steering Committee Member Raj Gilda '00 and Thomas Schneider, a resident from Germany.
SAVE THE DATE July 21, 2007 Geneva Alumni Reunion • Geneva, Switzerland
To RSVP and for more information, please contact Nils Francke '85 at nfrancke@pictet.com or Zeina Hakim '04 at Zeina.Hakim@lettres.unige.ch September 15-17, 2007 20th Anniversary Freunde Annual Meeting & Pan-European Alumni Gathering • Krakow, Poland
For more information, please contact Marek Wolek at marek.wolek@de.pwc.com.
How Can Alumni Help? Let Me Count the Ways!
JohannesTyrell'05
lived at International House as an exchange student at Columbia University's Business School. A native of Munich, he helped organize Freunde's meeting there in 2005. Ever enthusiastic about International House, Johannes has been advising Freunde's leadership on ways to further involve recent alumni in the chapter's activities. He is Key Account Manager in the Munich office of the Parisbased software company avanquest.com. In addition to these new members, the Council elected Patricia Cloherty '67, Mark Eyskens '57, Mohammed I. Khan '55, and Takeshi Nagano '55 as Life Members.
MAA Celebrates 60 Years of Service to Morningside Heights
A U
eaders of area educational and religious institutions gathered at International House on April 24th to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Morningside Area Alliance (MAA). I. House President Don Cuneo - as past President of the MAA Board - welcomed MAA representatives and guests, and paid tribute to special guest David Rockefeller, who was instrumental in the organization's founding. Featured speaker at the event was Professor Hilary Ballon of Columbia University, curator of Robert Moses and the Modern City, an exhibition which re-evaluated Moses's physical transformation of New York from 1930-1968. Originally known as Morningside Heights, Inc., the Morningside Area Alliance was established in 1947 by leaders of Morningside Heights institutions. Led by David Rockefeller, then Chairman of the Executive Committee of International House, the organization provided collective urban planning and development for the Morningside Heights and Manhattanville areas of Upper Manhattan. In its early years, the Alliance successfully planned and advocated for the development of Morningside Gardens and Grant Houses. The Alliance also advocated for good schools, established a neighborhood youth program and enhanced public safety by providing a series of security patrols. In recent years, the MAA has initiated new programs to better link its member institutions with each other and surrounding communities. In the late 1990s, the Alliance worked closely with the community to revitalize the long-neglected Morningside Park, and is currently involved in new partnerships to strengthen neighborhood schools.
As you have read elsewhere in these pages, the World Council meeting in India was a great success. Just as in the past, a combination of strong alumni Director of Development John A. Wells participation, an attractive locale, high caliber speakers, funding for travel grants, and topnotch staff work (led in this case by Nicole Davidson), resulted in an exhilarating week of learning, fellowship and cultural exchange, all in the great I. House tradition. Our experience tells us that these gatherings are only successful with alumni participation in the planning process and in the meetings themselves. To this end, Council member Harjiv Singh '02 was indispensable in providing assistance with travel planning, site selection, and attracting speakers. A number of alumni from the region participated in the meetings thanks in part to travel grants provided by Co-Chairs Sigurdur Helgason '45 and Adrian Looney '92. Area alumni also did a stellar job of taking part in a number of panel discussions that took place during the week. Just as alumni both on and off the World Council make enormous
contributions to the success of these biennial meetings, alumni everywhere can help the effort in smaller but no less important ways. Here are some examples: ReferanApplicant: Do you know someone who is planning on pursuing graduate studies or interning in New York City next year? Do you think they would make a great addition to the I. House community? Send us their name and address and we will send them the appropriate informational and application materials. Become an I. House Ambassador:
When deciding whether to live at International House, accepted residents have many questions beyond costs, amenities and types of accommodations. While these things vary, the heart of the I. House experience stays the same and alumni can help the House by sharing their experience with these applicants. I. House facilitates contact between Ambassadors and applicants via email and prepares Ambassadors by providing them with the most current information on House policies, procedures and programs. Distribute Recruitment Materials:
If you work at or live near a university or educational institution, you can help spread the word about International House by hand-delivering recruitment materials to appropriate advisors. Once
you deliver the materials, we will follow up with the institutions. Network: The friendships that residents make during their stay at I. House often last a lifetime. You can help reconnect alumni and meet new alumni by hosting or organizing an alumni event in your area. The common I. House thread makes such get-togethers fun and lively even if no one in the group has met before! Whether you want the event to be purely social or have a professional networking focus, the Office of Development & Alumni Relations can provide you with support and ideas. Help update alumni contact information. Our database is only as good as the contact information provided by our alumni. Your assistance in locating alumni who have moved within your area is a huge help in our efforts to keep in touch. Alumni living in the New York area have many more opportunities to help out, by volunteering as a WIL mentor, participating in the annual Walk on Wall Street or Professional Interest Night or hosting a "Taste of I. House" dinner, where alumni invite residents to share a meal with them either at their home or nearby restaurant. If you're interested in lending a hand, or have more questions, call or e-mail us at 212-316-8425, or alumni@ihouse-nyc.org.
David Rockefeller Elected Honorary Chairman Sixty-seven years after he was first elected to the Board of Trustees, David Rockefeller has been named Honorary Chairman of International House, succeeding the late President Gerald R. Ford. The Board voted unanimously at its meeting in February to elect Mr. Rockefeller, who was approached the following month by Chairman Paul A. Volcker. "I am very flattered to have been invited and I am very happy to accept;' Mr. Rockefeller wrote in a subsequent letter to the Chairman. "For me to become Honorary Chairman will renew a relationship which has been important to me for so very long." Mr. Rockefeller is only the sixth person to hold the position, following former US Secretaries of State Henry L. Stimson and George C. Marshall, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, banker/statesman John J. McCloy, and President Ford, who served for 18 years until his death in December.
David Rockefeller with former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins at International House for the MAA Celebration in April.
Record-Breaking Gala Celebrates Citizens of the World
Board Elects New Member
continued from page 1
The Board of Trustees elected Mary Wadsworth Darby to their ranks at the February 21st meeting. An accomplished businesswoman with extensive experience in China's capital markets, Darby is currently a Senior Research Mary Wadsworth Darby. Scholar at Columbia Business School where she leads faculty seminars and lectures on recent developments in China's investment, trade and business strategies. She received her B.A. from Princeton University and her M.B.A. and M.I.A. degrees from Columbia University and will serve on the Programs & Resident Life and the Development & Alumni Relations Committees of the I. House Board.
the Harry Edmonds Award, and in so doing, the House recognized Toyota's dedication to promoting a prosperous society and its sustainable development. Echoing the International House mission, Toyota is committed to supporting educational programs on a global scale that will develop future leaders. The company's involvement with I. House dates back more than 50 years, from the days when alumnus Tatsuro Toyoda '58 participated in the I. House community while an MBA candidate at New York University. Following the poignant and heartfelt remarks by presenters and honorees, guests danced into the night accompanied by the lively sounds of the Bob Hardwick Sound. The House is especially grateful to the following leadership donors whose generosity helped make this event a great success: the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Abby and George O'Neill, Toyota, Tsuchiya Group Companies and Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.
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nd In&Arou
lnternational House always leave the camp site better than you found it. We [The U.S. Russia Investment Fund] are trying to do that and I know that the WIL Program and the I. House family are on that same theme too."
UNIFEM Executive Director Explores Forces of Globalization Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, explored what she called the "three forces of globalization that shape the progress of humankind today" in an address to residents on February 22. One force, eco nomic globalization, Heyzer said, is not a new concept, but has been altered by the speed and increased connectivity of trade. Technology has increased this pace. The spread of economic globalization has resulted in an increasing number of women joining the workforce. Citing The Economist, Heyzer Noeleen Heyzer stated that female labor accounts for more economic growth than that of India and China combined. While globalization has provided women more opportunities to join the work force, it has also "increased inequalities in income, across gender and class, within countries and across borders;' she said. According to Heyzer, the world's workforce is divided into three categories: the highly skilled, the semi-skilled, who make up much of the service industry and domestic workers, who are often illegal migrant workers. Each fragment of the workforce receives varying benefits from globalization, but because the movement of people across borders remains difficult, the least skilled receive very little. The third force Heyzer identified as affecting progress is problems that do not have borders and go beyond the capabilities of a nation state to control or address individually. These include HIV/AIDS, the environment and criminal networks. Heyzer called for global protocols and standards to address these borderless issues. In addition to insisting on the enforcement of these protocols, UNIFEM builds partnerships across sectors because "while nation states are still accountable;' Heyzer said, "they have lost power in the increasing giobaiized worid."
Because service learn ing and volunteerism hold many of the same values as the mission of International House, I. House launched the Community Service Council in the fa ll. This program provides resident members service opportunities, internal and external to the House, which bring them into their community and engage them in the lives of everyday Americans. By learning about and experiencing social issues affecting their community, the resident members bwld more tolerance, respect and understanding for each other and those in the world around them. This year's projects included a visit to the Bowery Mission (pictured here), which serves homeless and poor New Yorkers. I. House residents performed odd jobs and prepared and served a meal to the Mission's community. Residents also delivered meals to the homebound elderly through the Carter Burden Center for Aging and worked with the Parks Department to clean up neighboring Sakura Park.
Cloherty Visitor Program Launched During Women's Week Celebration The sixteen grantees of the Women's International Leadership (WIL) Program presented a compelling series of activities and events to the International House community March 4-March 9, in celebration of Women's History Month. Programmatic activities during the week included an arts and entertainment evening and an enlightening panel discussion featuring women leaders representing diverse fields. The WIL grantees focused on health and wellness issues with informational sessions on healthy eating and exercise, a yoga workshop and a self-defense workshop conducted by the Center for Anti-Violence Education.
Mclaine Week Welcomes Back Alumni The Mclaine Program celebrated another week of exploration of the cultures and countries of Eastern and Central Europe and the newly independent states in late January. Organized by the Mclaine fellow Dora Coman of Romania and residents from the region, the week included a photo exhibition of Russian architecture, a cultural hour examining numerous regional cultures, a movie night, salon night featuring star residents from the region and alumnus GabrielusAlekna '05 and a resident roundtable, Myths and Realities, where participants viewed several clips of films depicting Eastern European culture, such as "Borat", and discussed the meaning of stereotypes and cultural identities. A highlight of the week was a visiting artist program, sponsored by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, where playwright and I. House alumna Saviana Stanescu '04 returned to the House to read from Google Me, her latest collection of poetry dedicated to the immigrant experience, intercultural communication and the Internet.
Saviana Stanescu '04 and Katherine Shloznikova, originally from
Russia, following Stanescu's performance.
Patricia Cloherty with the WIL Grantees and WIL Advisory Council Chair Pat Taylor at the inaugural Pat Cloherty Visitor Program.
A highlight of the week was the Patricia Cloherty Visitor Program, a new speaker program that features distinguished female professionals. It was established in 2006 in honor of Patricia Cloherty '67, an International House alumna and Life Trustee who has distinguished herself as one of the world's leading venture capitalists and a pioneer for women in international finance. The inaugural speaker for the Visitor Program was Ms. Cloherty. She outlined the strides women have made in the workplace over the last few decades and asserted that more women serve as heads of state, as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and as entrepreneurs who create jobs, generate wealth and produce innovative goods tl1an ever before. According to Cloherty, the future is replete with opportunities for women in a world that is becoming more "knowledgebased" rather than "brawn-based." Cloherty also discussed her long career in the venture capitalism business and shared inspiring lessons from her experience fostering entrepreneurship in the United States as well as Russia and Eastern Europe. During her tenure on the US Russia Investment Fund she currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Delta Private Equity Partners, a private firm that manages the US Russia Investment Fund - she played an integral role in promoting the development of a free-market economy in Russia by investing in high-growth entrepreneurial companies with strong management teams. Her fund launched the first mortgage bank and the first credit card bank in Russia. They also established the U.S. Russia Center for Entrepreneurship, which offers training, policy analysis and networking events for Russia's young entrepreneurs. In concluding her address, Cloherty remarked, "When I was a young girl and an avid girl scout, we had a directive:
Adebayo Adefope serves up food at the Nigeria food booth at the 2007 All Nations Celebration. The event, which featured resident dance performances, sports demonstrations and cultural booths raised over $6,000 for the annual fund.
Oh the Places they Go They study at New York's top universities and overcome odds to come to the United States. They live at I. House in a supportive environment that enhances their leadership and communication skills. They are future global leaders. These are just a few examples of the remarkable residents of International House and the amazing things they do. Guillermo E. Gonzalez, a Columbia University Master of Social Work Candidate from the United States was awarded the MSW Student of the Year Award sponsored by the National Association of Social Work and New York State Social Work Education Association. Gonzalez will be pursuing his Ph.D. from Washington University next year, where he will research productive aging. Simeon Renoldner from Austria and Paraguay published a book in February, "Ottawa-Process. Decision-Making and Negotiations on Antipersonnel Mines and the Influence ofNGOs" (in German), published by Peter Lang Publishing Group (Frankfurt am Main/Oxford/New York/Vienna, 2007), which analyzes the role of NGOs in the unique negotiation process ("Ottawa-Process") which led to the adoption of an international legally binding convention on the prohibition of antipersonnel mines. Renoldner is currently working for the United Nations. Michael Engel, who is working on the ecological history of termites at the American Museum of Natural History while living at I. House, recently discovered the oldest termite fossils, nearly 130 million years old, in Siberia. He also discovered termites in amber from Lebanon from 120 million years ago. Cidna Valentin was selected as the Ronald McNair Graduate Fellow at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. She is researching sexual self-concept development of HIVinfected adolescent females. Cidna is one of the Peer Counselors at International House.
Graduating I. House residents celebrate prior to the Columbia University commencement ceremony.