Meet the Director
Welcome to the Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs (SGPIA)!
Now is an important time to explore international affairs, to understand global challenges, and to learn how to join the struggle for a more just world order. In the twenty years since its founding, SGPIA has routinely re-imagined and re-defined its curriculum to be timely in examining shibboleths of world politics and to be relevant in speaking to contemporary problems such as COVID-19, climate change, systemic racism, inequality, fractures in multilateralism, a retreat from democracy, and crumbling governance systems.
SGPIA offers a different type of graduate education and professional training in international affairs—it challenges not only the conventional wisdom of international affairs but also the narrow confines of traditional international affairs education. The program has a distinct approach to prepare students to work in international affairs in the 21st century:
• The “what” (content of education): The social justice-infused curriculum recognizes that the technical is invariably political, and therefore, critical perspectives and creative thinking necessarily supplement building analytical, communication, and professional skills. Rooted in the tradition of The New School, SGPIA exposes students to alternative interpretations (such as Critical Theory, Feminism, and Post-Colonialism) and innovative tools that enable realizing a moral world order. You may also take classes in other programs and divisions of The New School to benefit from its unique offerings that bridge social sciences, humanities, and design.
• The “why” (mission of the program): SGPIA was predicated on a critique of globalization, the limits of great power viewpoints and domination, and listening to and empowering marginalized populations to build a more humane world. It continues with these aims in contributing to the agenda of decolonizing international affairs.
• The “how” (creative pedagogies): Student are at the center of designing their own curriculum and may participate in a wide variety of experiential or practice-based learning opportunities both on the ground in the Global South and in international and non-governmental organizations.
• The “who” (student demographics): International affairs has changed, and, so, too, have the people working in this field—it is less and less dominated by white men from Europe and increasingly open to all people of all genders, religions, ethnicities, and socio-economic classes. GPIA mirrors this in drawing students from over 100 countries and with a myriad of ethnic, religious, national and professional backgrounds, the GPIA environment evinces and embraces global diversity. Over 1/3 of students are from outside the US, and nearly ¾ are female.
Our faculty are experts in and work across a wide range of fields and disciplines, and come from a diverse assortment of geographic and professional backgrounds. Along with our staff, we are committed to helping students learn about international affairs, identify and impart the tools they need to work in this field, and find career pathways. The result is a vibrant community and a robust education that provides inspiration and preparation. We look forward to working with you, the next generation of change-making world citizens.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Hoffman
Director and Assistant Professor
Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs