This open letter was previously submitted by alumni of the Julien J. Studley Programs in International Affairs to university leadership in response to their decision to discontinue the MA/MS programs.

We, alumni of the Julien J. Studley Programs in International Affairs (GPIA), are writing to express our shock and deepest concern regarding your decision to permanently close our program and to urge an immediate reversal of this decision.

We are dismayed by your decision and the process through which you arrived at it, which did not include any consultations with an integral part of the program — its alumni. We were not informed the closure of our program was even under consideration, nor were we consulted at any point during a review the president has called “comprehensive.” We take this lack of communication as an affront to the thousands of us who invested in this program not only financially, but through our time, commitment, and intellect.

Your decision comes at a time when programs such as GPIA are needed more than ever. We live in a world of failing multilateralism, divisive politics, and collective global challenges such as the growing climate emergency and widespread war and conflict. These problems require solutions from trained multidisciplinary professionals such as ourselves. Unfortunately, as these problems multiply, the schools that train future professionals like us are dwindling, leaving fewer and fewer individuals to pursue necessary solutions. 

Furthermore, the decision contravenes the very spirit that drew us to The New School: its legacy as the University in Exile. We graduated from a department that focused on global issues and prioritized admitting an international student body, allowing us to combine our diverse perspectives to come to the most comprehensive conclusions. It was unique and necessary. We view your decision to close our program as a betrayal of The New School’s founding values.

We recognize the task of remedying the budget shortfalls is not easy, but this should not come at the cost of a critical part of our institution. It should not come at the expense of our professional reputations, built upon the degrees we worked hard to obtain, when our sector is being undermined and dismantled. Instead of amplifying this disturbing trend, The New School should be doing the opposite: strengthening programs that are essential in today’s volatile world.

Sadly, your decision reflects the long-standing reality that the university has never fully backed GPIA, as it failed to provide ample career support services to its students and alumni among other issues. Despite this lack of institutional support, our program has kept persevering and improving.

In the course of the university’s recent review, our faculty and alumni were not consulted. You have instead relied on metrics that do not reflect the scope, depth, or quality of what GPIA offered us over the course of our education and into our professional lives. You certainly have not taken into account those who, if it remained open, would select it to be their home in the future. You have not measured the impact the program and its alumni have had — in New York, the United States, and globally. We chose GPIA because of its unique nature and for being different from SIPA, CGA, or other area programs. 

Your decision has placed our professional reputations at stake as well as our credibility in the workplace. We are proud graduates who work in multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, government institutions, non-governmental organizations, private sector, and academia. Many of us have invested in this program well beyond our graduation year by attending events, donating money, and volunteering.

Finally, we are shocked and ashamed at the disregard of GPIA’s excellent faculty whom we value and have maintained close relationships with over the years, as well as the incoming students — we find it unfathomable you would turn them away. This is irresponsible and unconscionable, and we will not stand by silently as you acquiesce to what is, at its root, political pressure by this country’s current administration. 

As a diverse global community of people innovating and leading in our respective fields, we reiterate our urgent call for the university leadership to immediately reverse its decision to discontinue GPIA, to allow the program to continue operating without interruption, and to immediately engage with alumni about its future.

Sincerely,

Abi Jaffa, 2015, Conflict and Security

Albert Larew, 2011, Conflict and Security

Alexander Rossen, 2025, Governance and Rights

Alexandr Wynn, 2017, MA, Media

Alexandra Bell, 2006, International Affairs, Conflict and Security

Alexandra Vasquez, 2020, MA, Development

Alissa Chisholm Pasqua, 2015, International Affairs, Cities and Social Justice

Alix Schroder, 2014, MA, Development

Allie Esslinger, 2010, MS, Media

Amy Marpman, 2007, International Affairs

Anamaria Vrabie, 2012, Cities and Urbanization

Andrea Edman, 2020, MS International Affairs with Gender Concentration

Andrea Garcia, 2013, Development

Andrew Thornton, 2008, Governance and Rights

Anna Whitson-Diaz, 2014, MA, International Affairs

Anushay Sad, 2007, Governance and Rights

Ard Morina, 2014, MA, International Affairs

Ashé Brooks-Cook, 2016, MA, Conflict and security

Ashley F. Thomas, 2015, Governance and Rights

Ayesha Issadeen, 2019, Cities and Social Justice

Barry Pamer, 2010, MA, Media and Culture concentration

Belinda Sanchez, 2025, Governance and Rights 

Benedict Ayodi, 2011, MA International Affairs

Beth Prosnitz, Ph.D., 2011, Conflict and Security

Bianca Saikaley, 2017, Media and Culture

Bijal Patel, 2010, MA, International Affairs

Bisan Hamayel, 2025, Conflict and Security

Boima Tucker, 2012, Cities and Social Justice

Bonnie Berry, 2015, Governance and Rights

Brandon Melecio Fischer, 2012, 2015, MA International Affairs, MA Anthropology

Brian Terranova, 2011, Conflict and Security

Budhaditya Bhattacharya, 2020, MS, International Affairs

Caitlin Jurman, 2014, Conflict and Security

Carrie James, Esq., 2012, Governance and Rights

Christie Saint-Vil, 2014, Governance and Rights 

Christopher Kiernan, 2013, Development, Conflict and Security

Claire Harlan, 2021, MS, International Affairs

Colby Alderman Silver, 2016, Governance and Rights

Colin Dean, 2011, Conflict and Security

Craig Wilson, 2013, Governance and Rights

Cristina Elena Petcu, 2018, Conflict and Security 

Cristina Valbuena-Castor, 2014, Governance and Rights

Dafne Regenhardt, 2016, Development

Daniel Waldron, 2015, Development

Denis Fitzgerald, 2009, Media

Diana Rusu, 2014, Development

Dimal Basha, 2011, Conflict and Security

Dragica Mikavica, 2011, Conflict and Security

Eddy Pierre, 2016, Development

Eleece Sherwood, 2009, Conflict and Security

Elisabeth Brodbeck, 2010, Development

Elizabeth Benjamin (Gritzmacher), 2011, Governance and Rights

Elizabeth Gaines, 2009, Governance and Rights

Ella Colley, 2016, Media

Emilie Romero, 2013, Media and Culture

Emily Molfino, 2010, Conflict and Security

Emma Stoskopf-Ehrlich, 2015, Conflict and Security

Eric Bias, 2019, Conflict and Security 

Eugenia Pietrogrande, 2011, Development, Conflict and Security

Eugenia Tremouilles Campbell, 2008, Governance and Rights

Fleur Msnishimwe, 2025, Development 

Gabrielle Belli, 2016, Conflict and Security

Graciela Breece-Rodriguez, 2014, Development, Governance and Rights

Haimy Assefa, 2013, Governance and Rights

Haley Grachico (Swanson), 2013, Development

Heartie Look, 2016, Development

Hira Babar, 2018, Governance and Rights 

Holiday Dmitri, 2010, Conflict and Security

Ilir Deda, 2007, MA International Affairs

Ippolita di Paola, 2013, MA, International Affairs

Isadora Jahanfar Tholin, 2022, Governance and Rights

Ivan Brugere, 2009, Governance and Rights

J. Alejandro Alvarez, 2010, MA International Affairs

James Campbell, 2013, Governance and Rights 

James Foley, 2013, Development and Cities

Jasmine Harmston, 2025, Governance and Rights

Jasna Culic-Viskota, 2006, Economic Development 

Jehane Akiki, 2017, Development, Cities and Social Justice

Jeremiah Johnson, 2018, Conflict and Security 

Jessica Durovy, 2016, MA International Affairs

Jessica Souza, 2013, Development

Jessica Tallarico, 2013, Development

Jill Boyd, 2014, Governance and Rights 

Joel Arken, 2014, Governance and Rights

Joel Malebranche, 2010, Conflict and Security 

John Burkhart, 2002, Cities

John Sapida, 2016, Media and Culture 

Jonathan Leonard, 2015, Conflict and Security

Jonathan Reinstein, 2025, Cities and Social Justice 

Joshua Greenstein, 2009, Development 

Julia Levin, 2017, Development 

Julia Milan de Souza Carvalho, 2014, Development

Julia Waldruche de Montremy, 2018, Conflict and Security 

Julie Juel Andersen, 2020, Conflict and Security 

Julie Kim, 2022, Governance and Rights, Development 

Justis Peppers, 2023, Conflict and Security

Kara Patrick, 2014, Cities

Katarina Spasic, 2014, MS, Nonprofit Management

Kathryn (Katie) Masi, 2017, International Affairs

Katie Feit, 2011, Conflict and Security, Governance and Rights

Keesler Welch, 2011, Development

Kelly Baker, 2017, Media

Kevin Gschwend, 2014, MA International Affairs

Keyona Forbes, 2013, MA International Affairs

Kiah Shapiro, 2014, Conflict and Security

Kimberlee Hurley, 2011, MA International Affairs

Kimberly Pendragon, Esq., 2017, Governance and Rights

Krystle Goodwin, 2015, Development

Laura Nitz, 2017, Media

Lauren Gula, 2011, Governance and Rights

Lea (Felluss) Dumagat, 2010, Development

Leah Guyot, 2021, Conflict and Security, Governance and Rights, Migration Studies Minor

Lena Simet, 2014, Cities and Development

Lene Egeli, 2015, Cities and Social Justice

Lindsay Mazzocco, 2011, Development

Logan Blouin, 2014, Cities and Social Justice

Luis Daniel Ibarra Andrade, 2018, Governance and Rights

Madeleine Petersen, 2023, Governance and Rights

Mara Levi, 2025, Governance and Rights, Cities and Social Justice

Marco Gabriel Crespo, 2018, Governance and Rights

Mari Anne Flora, 2010, International Relations and Sustainability

Maria Juliana Ruiz, 2021, International Affairs

Maria Lisa Guaqueta, 2006, Cities

Maria Ximena Plaza, 2012, MA International Affairs

Marie Bakke, 2015, MS Media and Culture

Marie Smith, 2012, Governance and Rights

Marilyn Alexander, 2014, Development

Marina Gabriel, 2015, International Affairs

Marte Samuelstuen Aboagye, 2016, Cities and Social Justice

Martin Wøldike, 2011, MA International Affairs 

Mary E Robbins, 2011, Development

Matt Schwartz, 2010, Conflict and Security 

Matthew Amaral, 2016, Media

Melissa De la Cruz, 2017, Development

Meriame Filali Adib, 2008, Socio-Economic Development

Mildred Ferrer, 2015, Cities and Social Justice

Mónica Gabriela Paz Arancibia, 2007, Governance and Rights

Mykell Clem, 2021, Governance and Rights

Nada Abshir, 2006, MA International Affairs

Nadine Lainer, 2016, Development, Conflict and Security

Natalie Briggs, 2020, Conflict and Security

Nathalie Interiano, 2015, Governance and Rights

Nathaniel Glidden, 2015, Development

Nathaniel Katin-Borland, 2009, Conflict and Security

Nejdan Yildiz, 2009, MA International Affairs

Nicolas Jose Rodriguez, 2015, Conflict and Security 

Nicole Courtemanche, 2011, Development

Nicole Weitzner, 2011, MA Development

Nipin Gangadharan, 2009, Conflict and Security

Oscar Romero, 2018, Media

Pablo Portes Isidor, 2024, Governance and Rights

Pablo Santos-Pineda, 2015, Development

Palwasha Sharwani, 2013, MA International Affairs

Pamela Huyser, 2014, Media and Culture

Patrick Guyer, 2009, Governance and Rights

Phil Garber, 2023, Governance and Rights

Priyanka Rao, 2011, Development

Rachel Sander, 2016, Economic Development

Rachel Stevens, 2016, Media and Culture

Raiesa Frazer, 2022, Development

Rebecca Snyder, 2012, Governance and Rights, Development

Rebekah Frank, 2013, Governance and Rights

Revaz Ardasher, 2011, Development

Roni Zahavi-Brunner, 2025, Conflict and Security 

Rose M Worden, 2016, Development

Sachchal Ahmad, 2018, MS, Conflict and Security 

Sadie-Evelyn Gillis, 2014, Governance and Rights

Sai Madivala, 2012, Governance and Rights

Samuel Port, 2022, Development

Sarah El-Shaarawi, 2013, Media and Culture, Conflict and Security

Savannah Cox, 2015, Governance and Rights

Sean Thomas, 2010, Media

Selorm Quist, 2022, MS, Race and International Affairs

Senay Imre, 2013, Development

Shana Falb, 2012, Development

Sharif Hassanein, 2014, Conflict and Security

Shriya Malhotra, 2009, Cities and Urbanization

Silvia Perugachi, 2008, Development

Skye Dobson, 2011, Cities

Stephan Said, 2007, Media and Governance

Stephanie Clough, 2010, Conflict and Security

Steve Torrente, 2010, Conflict and Security 

Summer Lightfoot, 2018, Conflict and Security

Susan L. Williams, 2014, Development

Tanya Kar, 2014, Development

Taylor Janes, 2010, Governance and Rights

Thomas Disley, 2016, Development

Tian-Tian He, 2024, Development 

Tiffani McCoy, 2013, Conflict and Security

Timothy Wang-Holborn, 2015, Conflict and Security 

Tina Hansen, 2006, Conflict and Security

Torsten Jochem, 2007, Socio-Economic Development

Veronica Foley, 2014, International Development

Vesna Jaksic Lowe, 2011, MS, Governance and Rights

Victoria Webbe, 2012, Conflict and Security, Development

Vida Tehrani, 2015, Conflict and Security

Wafa Dahbali, 2014, Governance and Rights

Yael Even Or, 2014, Media and Culture

Yiqing Wang-Holborn, 2015, Media and Culture

Yousef Khalil, 2016, Development 

Zamira Djabarova, 2007, Social and Economic Development