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Government & External Affairs

Government & External Affairs

The Government and External Affairs team is the university’s primary liaison with local, state, and federal government offices. We also work with civic organizations to raise awareness about The New School.
Legislative Affairs & Advocacy
We monitor legislative and policy efforts that affect The New School’s interests and pursue opportunities for discretionary government funding to support university initiatives. We also engage with and influence the legislative agenda of local, state, and federal policymakers to benefit the New School’s mission, values, and priorities.
- Advocacy
  
  We help ensure that The New School’s voice is heard on important issues affecting higher education, such as:
  Access
  Student financial aid programs such as Pell Grants, a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, the ability of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to enroll in universities, and a student visa process that is available and accessible for international students
  Student Success and Well-Being
  Programs and resources that address student mental health, belonging, and food security
  Institutional Support
  Strengthening higher education institutions through capital planning and new funding initiatives
  Climate Change and Sustainability
  Advancing the environmental sustainability of campuses and communities and conducting research and implementing initiatives aimed at addressing climate change.
Lobbying & Political Compliance
We ensure that the university complies with laws related to lobbying at the federal, state, and local levels of government and activities related to political campaigns.
- Engagement with Public Officials
  
  Faculty and staff interested in engaging with government and elected officials on policy or legislation are strongly encouraged to contact Government and External Affairs. Certain interactions with government officials are considered lobbying (e.g., asking for funding or advocating for a policy change) and are governed by specific, complex laws and regulations. Please see the university’s Lobbying Policy to learn more.
  Resources are available for finding the elected officials representing The New School. If you want to invite one of our elected officials to your classroom or a university event, please contact Government and External Affairs.
- Political & Campaign Activities on Campus
  
  As a private, nonprofit institution of higher education, The New School cannot engage in partisan political campaign-related activities. Students, faculty, and staff can engage in nonpartisan issue advocacy, voter registration, and education efforts. For guidance, please contact Government and External Affairs.
Civic & Community Engagement
We work to strengthen communication and relationships between The New School and a range of civic and cultural organizations.
- Partnering with The New School
  
  We welcome collaboration and partnership with civic and cultural organizations to advance shared goals, apply our educational mission to the greater good, and create opportunities for our students. If you want to explore ways to connect with the university, please contact Government and External Affairs.
  To inquire about renting space at the university, please visit Campus Venue Services.
- Government Internships
  
  An internship with an elected official or a government agency is a rewarding way for our students to gain experience and give back to their communities through public service. Government and External Affairs works with the Career Development and Experience office to share these opportunities with students.
- Voter Registration
  
  Voting is essential to participation in democracy. All members of The New School community – faculty, students, and staff – eligible to vote in the U.S. are strongly encouraged to do so. Elected officials make decisions and create policies in the best interest of their constituents. When you vote, you determine who gets to make those critical decisions.
  Register to vote in New York State
  Request an absentee ballot from another state
  Visit our register to vote page to learn more about student voter registration
Our Team

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Rachana Shah

Senior Director, Government and External Affairs

Rachana joined The New School as Senior Director of Government and External Affairs in 2022. Her experience in government and advocacy spans almost two decades in the public sector, including roles as Director of Federal and State Affairs at Pace University, where she helped navigate policy and regulatory issues for the university, and as Senior Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Grace Meng, where she advised the Congresswoman on civil rights, criminal justice reform, immigration, census, reproductive rights, children and family issues, global health, and human rights. Rachana also worked as director for a nonpartisan redistricting campaign, an education non-profit, and the NYC Council. She has a B.A. in Medical Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University and a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law.

Deborah Bogosian

Associate Vice President for Administration and Community Engagement

Deborah is a senior member of the team in the Office of the President, where she advises on, designs, and coordinates engagement with all constituencies and stakeholders and supports the work of the Board of Trustees. Her deep experience at The New School includes former roles as Chief of Staff to the President and the first Communications Director in the Office of the Provost. Previously, at Parsons School of Design, her work focused on strategic planning and advancing leadership priorities, including development and work with the Board of Governors. Earlier roles in cultural institutions and higher education have included a decade as head of public programs and special events at the Baltimore Museum of Art, as well as arts management and marketing roles at two universities. She holds a BA from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Contact Us

Government & External Affairs
Rachana Shah, Senior Director
[email protected]
646.647.5170
Related Links

University Lobbying Policy

Student Voter Registration Information

Campus Venue Services

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