Hello and a warm welcome to our new EPD members, and a delightful welcome back to our returning EPD members!

Hello from Semon and Talia, your dedicated EPD PAs! We're delighted to welcome you to our dynamic EPD community. First off, congratulations on starting a new semester! We've been excitedly anticipating the arrival of our new members, and with orientation and the rigorous math camp now behind us, it’s time to leap into the thrilling pursuits of EPD. You are now part of the most exciting concentration at SIPA—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Going forward, consider us your primary resources, problem solvers, and allies. Throughout the year, we'll keep you updated and engaged with a continuous flow of emails brimming with insights, updates, and events, all with a dash of fun to ensure you stay connected and entertained. Your journey here is poised to be truly extraordinary, and we're here to ensure it’s phenomenal!

If you ever feel out of place or doubt your capabilities—common feelings that manifest as imposter syndrome—remember that you're not alone. Overcoming these feelings starts with acknowledging them. Talk about your feelings with peers or mentors, focus on your achievements no matter how small, and understand that perfection is a myth. Everyone’s path is unique, and your diverse perspectives and experiences are invaluable to our community. We're excited to support you in making your time at SIPA rewarding and successful!

This week’s newsletter includes:

• EPD Events
• Meet Your EPD Program Assistants
• Career Resources
• EPD Courses with Open Seats
• Things to Do in NYC
• EPD Office Hours

EPD Events

EPD Course Advising Session

When: Wednesday, September 4, 2024, 1-2 pm

Where: Room 1302

Register here

This is an informal discussion session led by the EPD Program Assistants along with other second-year students to share their thoughts and ideas about different courses, tips for navigating the semester and assignments, and managing your course load. Come with your questions and queries, and we'll do our best to answer them and guide you to the necessary resources to ensure you succeed in your time at SIPA!

EPD Retreat

When: Saturday, September 21, 2024, 8:30 am - 9 pm

Where: Taconic Outdoor Education Center

Our annual EPD Retreat will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center (TOEC) located in Cold Spring, NY (just over an hour north of NYC). The retreat is an excellent opportunity for new students to make new friends, bond with second-year EPD students, and engage with several EPD faculty in a fun outdoor setting. Registration is open to both first- and second-year EPD concentrators.

Registration on CampusGroups will open soon!

Registration and payment deadline: by 5pm on Friday, September 13.

Cost: $48 (payable by credit or debit card when you register).

A detailed agenda and confirmation email will be sent to all who registered (and paid) prior to the retreat.

Meet your EPD Program Assistants: Semon Makar Zekry and Talia Rosenberg

Semon

Previously, I worked at the Office of the United States Trade Representative in the Services, Investment, and Digital Trade Office, and I served as a fellow with the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. My experience spans both the public and private sectors, including positions at USAID, the Department of Justice, the United Nations, the World Trade Center, and J.P. Morgan Corporate & Investment Bank.

Outside of my professional life and my studies at SIPA, I enjoy cooking, playing tennis, and taking walks in Central Park. I am also actively involved in serving the Coptic Orthodox Church community.
 

Talia

I am a second-semester MIA student concentrating in EPD and specializing in GPPS. I am originally from the Philadelphia area in Pennsylvania but I lived in Washington, D.C. for two years before coming to SIPA.

I am passionate about using the tools of development ethically to make a tangible and long-term impact on communities around the world. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to work on the Selection and Eligibility team at the Millennium Challenge Corporation. I was responsible for evaluating dozens of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia-Pacific for MCC assistance based on adherence to standards of good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people.

When I'm not at SIPA, or busy doing the hours of homework and studying that learning Arabic requires, I like to spend my free time with friends and family exploring everything that New York City has to offer.
 

EPD Courses with Open Seats

For students still searching for courses to add to their schedule, the following EPD courses still have space available:

CORE POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COURSES:

INAF U6412 State and Society in the Developing World
Vicky Murillo
Wednesday, 9:00 - 10:50 am
Call #: 16202

INAF U8260 Authoritarianism: Accountability and Policy-Making in Non-Democratic Settings
Lisa Anderson
Wednesday, 2:10 - 4:00 pm
Call #: 16278
 

EPD FOCUS AREA (ELECTIVE) COURSES:

INAF U6359 Global Economic Governance
José Antonio Ocampo
Tuesday, 9:00 – 10:50 am
Call #: 16197

INAF U6726 Global Constitutionalism
Michael Doyle
Thursday, 2:10 - 4:00 pm
Call #: 16239
 

PUAF U8349 Intersections of Race and Power in Development
Shawna Wakefield
Thursday, 11:00 am - 12:50 pm
Call #: 16311

Unfortunately, because of low initial enrollment, we had to cancel these fall courses:

INAF U6114 Working with the Private Sector for Development Outcomes

INAF U6574 Evaluation in the UN System

INAF U8246 Comparative Development: Lessons of Success from the Developing World

If any first-year students would be interested in taking any of these courses in fall 2025, please let Jenny McGill (em419@columbia.edu) know. We hope to be able to offer one or more of these courses again if there is sufficient student interest.

Also, we've been informed that there is still space available in these (non-EPD) courses:

INAF U6259  Adaptation to Climate Change
Ben Orlove
Monday, 9:00 - 10:50 am

INAF U6087  Environmental Advocacy: From Interest to Action
Sara Tjossem
Monday, 11 am - 12:50 pm

INAF U6320  Political Context of Environmental Management
Sara Tjossem
Tuesday, 11 am - 12:50 pm
 

Career Resources

SIPA Career Website & Resources

Check out great career development resources for students that can be found on the SIPA Career Resources Website.

Factsheets on Career Development - Tips for international students and on connecting with alumni, interviewing, networking, PMF information, writing resumes and cover letters and other career development topics.

Career Overview Factsheet - Information, sample employers, and online resources for a variety of fields and industries

Sector-Specific Fact Sheets - Lists of employers by industry or field, organizational charts, and information on IFC and World Bank internship programs and YPPs.

Check out other resources on this website.

Things to Do in NYC

One of the highlights of studying at SIPA is the incredible variety of international students who arrive each year from various corners of the globe. New York City, with its dynamic and bustling atmosphere, perfectly complements your academic journey. We aim to introduce you to the best experiences the city has to offer, ensuring that you have plenty of exciting options to explore after a busy day of classes. Whether it's cultural events, culinary delights, or just vibrant street life, there's something in New York for everyone!

Passport to Museums

Get free admission to museums who generously provide this experience to current Columbia students.

All you need for admission is your CUID with a current semester validation sticker.

Get your validation sticker from the Student Service Center in 210 Kent Hall [more info]
 

Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse Kayaking

Where: Pier 4 Beach, New York, NY 11201
When: Wednesdays and Thursdays (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), Saturdays (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Family Program on Sundays (12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

At Pier 4 Beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park, visitors can kayak for free along the river for 20 minutes. All people need are clothes they can get wet in, and the rest is provided by Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can book the trip here and the reservations open two weeks in advance. The free slots are only on certain days and times, and walk-ups are welcome if there is free space.

New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Where: 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

When: Monday and Thursday through Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Tuesday and Wednesday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

If you love libraries, this library would be a treat for you! NYPL houses the iconic Rose Main Reading Room and is a must see. Not only is the library free to enter, but so are the tours! The 60 minute building tour is on Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tickets must be reserved online and are limited to the first 20 people. Visitors can access the link here for the building tour. The 15 minute Rose Main Reading Room Tour is available Monday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 a.m., and 3 p.m. This tour is only open to the first 25 people who sign up in person 30 minutes prior to the tour.

EPD Office Hours

José Antonio Ocampo, EPD Co-Director
jao2128@columbia.edu
Sign up online for office hours: https://tinyurl.com/ocampo-officehours

Eugenia (Jenny) McGill, EPD Co-Director & EPD Workshop Director
em419@columbia.edu
Sign up online for office hours: https://tinyurl.com/mcgill-oh

Semon Makar Zekry (MIA/EPD), Program Assistant