News – International House

Think Bigger: An Evening with Dr. Sheena Iyengar

Written by International House on December 4, 2024. Posted in News.

Where Do Big Ideas Come From? The classic story of the Statue of Liberty focuses on the persistence, passion, teamwork, and technological ingenuity it took to create her. But where did the idea for Lady Liberty come from? In a recent Distinguished Speaker Series talk, Dr. Sheena Iyengar, the S.T. Lee Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and a renowned expert on choice, explored the creative process behind the iconic statue—a symbol that has resonated with her since age three when she arrived from India with her parents. Dr. Iyengar deconstructed Frédéric Auguste...

From Night Manager to Distinguished Speaker: Jelani Cobb’s Journey Back to I-House

Written by International House on November 18, 2024. Posted in News.

The rumors are true: on his way to becoming an award-winning writer and producer, Jelani Cobb worked as a night manager at International House. Now Dean of Columbia Journalism School and a longtime writer for The New Yorker, Cobb returned to I-House on November 4, Election Day eve, to deliver a Distinguished Lecture Series talk in Davis Hall, where he discussed the election, political polarization, and the evolving role of journalism in America. But first, some memories. As Cobb was working toward his PhD in History, he staffed the Claremont reception, greeting residents as they...

I-House Welcomes Shobhna Mohn ’95 to the Board

Written by International House on October 30, 2024. Posted in News.

International House Board of Trustees Elects Shobhna Mohn ’95 to Join the Board At the recent meeting of the International House Board of Trustees on October 29, Shobhna Mohn ’95 (née Goyal) was elected to join the Board. A graduate of Columbia Business School and Delhi University, Mohn recently retired as Chief Strategy Officer from Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds and a division of the media, services and education company, Bertelsmann. Mohn began her career at Bertelsmann in the Corporate Development department in 1996. From 2002 to 2006, she headed the Investor...

Alumni Gather to Celebrate I-House Centennial

Written by International House on October 23, 2024. Posted in News.

Hundreds of alumni from around the world converged in New York September 14-15 for a beautiful late summer weekend of activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International House’s opening in 1924. More than 450 former I-House residents from the 35 different countries from every corner of the globe returned to 500 Riverside Drive to re-connect, share memories, and celebrate the Centennial at a series of events tied together with the theme “100 Years of Common Ground.” The festivities began with a “strolling brunch” in the Hall of History and Davis Hall, where President Sebastian...

Sharing the I-House Resident Directories

Written by International House on May 28, 2024. Posted in News.

Starting in 1923, I-House produced an annual directory for residents. Over the decades, these publications took a variety of forms, from helpful guidebooks with information on where to find a decent tailor to yearbook-style collections that showcased the events of the previous academic year to address books that encouraged residents to stay in touch with one another once they left I-House. Whatever form they took, the publications celebrated the life of I-House and helped residents and alumni sustain lifelong friendships and connections. In the welcome note to the 1944-1945...

Announcing the 2024 Davis Projects for Peace Awardees

Written by International House on April 23, 2024. Posted in News.

International House congratulates the ten I-House residents who have received funding through the Projects for Peace program to implement their own grassroots projects this coming summer: Yuxuan “Sean” Chen – Breaking Chains, Weaving Hopes, and Building Bridges: Drama Therapy for Peace (United States)Cecilia Costa da Luz – Creating Safe Spaces for Victims of Gang Violence in Brazil (Brazil)Huong Dang – Educating the Vietnamese Community to end Gender-Based Violence (Vietnam)William Eugene McKee – Borders and Binaries: Making Space for Irish Voices in the Brexit Conversation...