In and of the City, in and of the World

It would be impossible to overstate the impact of New York City on NYU Steinhardt. Undeniably the world’s cultural and economic capital, New York City is also a vibrant microcosm of the world itself—diverse, dynamic, and alive with possibility. However, it is not enough to simply be in New York City; NYU Steinhardt must also be “of the city.” Our faculty and students live and learn in and among the world’s foremost institutions, where they conduct research and engage in fieldwork in educational, health, media, and arts centers to address the pressing needs of the city and, by extension, the world. Community-based projects are examining such issues as the impact of nutrition on learning, the influence of club drugs on sexual risk-taking, links between technology and community on the Internet, and the use of music to improve the quality of life of the elderly.

Such collaboration with the diverse and vibrant communities of New York City is not just a central element of the Steinhardt experience; it is a realization of the School’s mission. Individual initiative, harnessed in collective endeavors, creates a culture where all members of the community are equal and welcome participants. As students pursue learning through clubs, research teams, and internships; as faculty push the limits of research and nurture in students a creative drive to explore; and as the School’s leaders facilitate student and faculty work by creating effective urban connections, a mutually reinforcing community evolves, one that fosters personal growth in the context of societal improvement.

At Steinhardt, we examine our local and global communities to explore their role in fostering human development. We look more deeply at the nature of “community” itself.