THE NEW SCHOOL – 2008-2009 ANNUAL REPORT

Award-winning playwright Christopher Shinn knows what it's like to be a young artist trying to negotiate the theater industry. His first play, Four, was produced at the Royal Court Theatre in London when he was only 23.

Assistant professor of economics and public policy Darrick Hamilton and Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy are a good match. "Milano is a place that fuses different disciplines but is also committed to social justice and civic engagement," he says.

Nancy Fraser draws on her background in philosophy to pose conceptual questions and uses their answers to make sense of society today. Nancy has worked in academia for many years, and her research has concentrated on social justice.

A renowned soprano saxophonist, improviser, and composer, Jane Ira Bloom came to New School Jazz partly because life on the road was not for her. "It was a point in my life when I'd been on this trajectory, and all of a sudden it felt like something was missing."

A director, producer, editor, and writer of feature films, documentaries, shorts, commercials, and music videos, Vladan Nikolic originally had no plans to add the title of professor to his resume.

As a teacher at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, Eric Wen found an unexpected benefit to his commute. On the train, he and a colleague, the world-renowned pianist Edward Aldwell, known for his performances of Bach, shared their love of music.

Joseph Heathcott's fascination with cities began early in life. "Because my own neighborhood was run through with an expressway," he says, "I understand the sense of loss one experiences when tangible surroundings and familiar environments disappear."

Lara Penin knows that design can change the world, and she is dedicated to making that happen. As a professor in the School of Design Strategies at Parsons The New School for Design, Lara is a leader in the emerging field of service design.