News – International House

Remembering Frank G. Wisner (1938-2025)

Written by International House on February 25, 2025. Posted in Announcements, News.

The International House community was saddened to learn of the death of Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, distinguished American diplomat and Chair of the Board of Trustees, on February 24th following a valiant battle with lung cancer. “Frank Wisner was a dedicated champion for I-House and a valued advisor for more than 25 years,” said I-House President Sebastian Fries. “In times of global crises, from 9/11 to wars in Ukraine and Gaza, he was here to share his unique perspective and insights with generations of I-House residents. We will miss him greatly.” A full obituary ran in...

Think Bigger: An Evening with Dr. Sheena Iyengar

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

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

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

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...

Alumni Gather to Celebrate I-House Centennial

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

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...