Eva Haller

A philanthropist, Holocaust survivor, and activist, Haller was born in Budapest and survived both the Nazi occupation of Hungary and the Soviet siege of Budapest. An advocate for social justice since childhood, she sneaked out with her brother, Janos, to assist him in distributing anti-Hitler pamphlets throughout Budapest when she was only 13. Janos later became one of the Jewish partisan fighting the Nazis and was killed as he crossed the Yugoslavian border to join Tito’s army. According to Eva, his death led her to become the social, educational, and environmental activist she is today. 

In 1952, Haller arrived in New York, where she cleaned houses by day and took classes at night. She received a BA in Psychology from The New School for Social Research, then a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Hunter College. In 1965, she joined Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Selma march. Today Haller serves on the boards of a number of nonprofits, many of which she founded. She has also served on the Board of Governors at The New School. 

Speaking to 2023 graduates of The New School for Social Research, Eva explained how she is inspired by The New School: “You are part of The New School, … really and truly the most important intellectual institution I have ever known.… Thought leaders from everywhere were at The New School in the 1950s. It was unbelievable who you met in the corridor. You could bump into Mrs. Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann.… It was such a privilege to be here, and it still is.”