Blogging with Dean Lisa Servon

Take a look at this video from the Graduate Admitted Student Reception that took place on April 1, 2009.

At the reception I introduced Michael Cohen, Director of the International Affairs Program. In his address to admitted students Michael talked about what it means to be a graduate student, especially during these difficult economic times and how your education permeates all parts of your life.

Also check out other episodes on The New School at http://thenewschool.blip.tv/
And keep informed of events that are happening at the University.

Be well-

 It’s an exciting time here at Milano as we start to gear up and prepare for the arrival of new students, welcome back current students, and begin a fresh start to a new semester. The Milano family continues to grow and I’m thrilled to introduce some of the new students that will be joining us in the fall.

The new class includes a nonprofit student that joins us after volunteering with World Teach -- an organization that places English speaking volunteers within developing education systems around the world -- where he taught English to students in Marshall Islands (four sections a day to around 45 students per class). In addition, he has been involved with several other nonprofits such as The Nuts and Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation, Recycled Movies, and The Green Ambassadors. Recently he developed an after school enrichment program in Los Angeles.

We have an incoming urban policy student that worked as a community organizer in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and in policy and political research for the New York State Senate Democratic Conference. Through deep concern about economic renewal in American cities, this student started a community center in one of the most devastated communities in the Gulf Coast.

In addition, we have a new Organizational Change Management student that serves as the Director of Public Policy and Communications at the Women’s Prison Association, a nonprofit social service and advocacy organization dedicated to assisting women who have criminal justice involvement. Coming to Milano, this student plans to transition from her work in advocacy to starting her career as a consultant.

We are so fortunate to continue to attract outstanding students with such diverse and unique experiences and talents. Our passion to be agents of social change and to help improve the lives of others binds us together at Milano.

Looking forward to seeing you all in the fall.

Be well.

We have had some really terrific people serve as deans of Milano—in my current role I often look around and appreciate the legacy they left me. One testament to the enormous talent of the people who have held this position is that they have gone on to do more great things.

Case in point: my immediate predecessor, Fred Hochberg, who served as Milano dean from 2004 – 2008, has just been sworn in as the 23rd president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), the official export credit agency of the United States. In this capacity, Hochberg serves as chairman of the board. During the Clinton Administration, from 1998 through 2001, Hochberg served as deputy, then acting administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), where he helped to lead an enhancement of customer service and substantially increased lending to minority and women small-business owners. We are excited to have a member of the Milano community in such an important position in the Obama Administration.

And Edward J.Blakely, who preceded Hochberg as dean, just stepped down after nearly three years as the New Orleans recovery czar in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. I saw Ed on a recent trip to New Orleans and he reflected on the opportunities and challenges that position offered. We have brought our expertise to that city through student project teams—the Finance Lab and the Chase Competition—over the past few years, and Ed was always extremely generous with his time, meeting with students and helping connect them to others in city government.

We wish both Fred and Ed the best of luck as they begin their next chapters!