Events – International House

FIHUK Centennial Weekend

Written by International House on May 12, 2025. Posted in Alumni News, Events.

Friends of International House, United Kingdom (FIHUK) celebrated I-House’s centennial May 9-11 during a beautiful spring weekend of varied activities in London which drew some 50 participants from the UK, USA, Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan and Bangladesh. The festivities began on May 9 with a welcome reception hosted by Deniz ’67 and Erol Gelenbe ’68 at their home in Belgravia. FIHUK Board President Patricia Hamzahee OBE ’83 welcomed the group with the promise of a weekend emblematic of the I-House experience, filled with music, art, friendship and conversation on...

Fareed Zakaria Discusses Today’s “Wild and Unruly World”

Written by International House on May 1, 2025. Posted in Events, News.

On April 3rd, the International House community went “Around the World with Fareed Zakaria,” as the CNN journalist and longtime Trustee described the current unraveling of a US-led international order that has prevailed since the end of World War II. The event drew a packed audience in Davis Hall eager to hear one of the world’s foremost commentators on international affairs. Speaking the day after US President Donald Trump proclaimed “Liberation Day,” announcing historic global tariffs, Zakaria delved deeply into the historical factors which have led to the current moment, and the...

Mark Morial: “Never Hesitate to Use Your Voice”

Written by International House on May 1, 2025. Posted in Events, News.

Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League and former Mayor of New Orleans, underscored the importance of coalition building and speaking out to I-House residents and alumni during an inspiring and very personal conversation on March 12. In a conversation that wove personal memory with national history, Morial reflected on his lifelong dedication to civil rights, social justice, and purpose-driven leadership. He recounted his experience as one of the first Black students to attend a newly integrated elementary school in New Orleans—a moment that shaped his understanding...

Think Bigger: An Evening with Dr. Sheena Iyengar

Written by International House on December 4, 2024. Posted in Events, News.

Where Do Big Ideas Come From? The classic story of the Statue of Liberty focuses on the persistence, passion, teamwork, and technological ingenuity it took to create her. But where did the idea for Lady Liberty come from? In a recent Distinguished Speaker Series talk, Dr. Sheena Iyengar, the S.T. Lee Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and a renowned expert on choice, explored the creative process behind the iconic statue—a symbol that has resonated with her since age three when she arrived from India with her parents. Dr. Iyengar deconstructed Frédéric...

From Night Manager to Distinguished Speaker: Jelani Cobb’s Journey Back to I-House

Written by International House on November 18, 2024. Posted in Events, News.

The rumors are true: on his way to becoming an award-winning writer and producer, Jelani Cobb worked as a night manager at International House. Now Dean of Columbia Journalism School and a longtime writer for The New Yorker, Cobb returned to I-House on November 4, Election Day eve, to deliver a Distinguished Lecture Series talk in Davis Hall, where he discussed the election, political polarization, and the evolving role of journalism in America. But first, some memories. As Cobb was working toward his PhD in History, he staffed the Claremont reception, greeting residents as...

Alumni Gather to Celebrate I-House Centennial

Written by International House on October 23, 2024. Posted in Alumni News, Announcements, Events, News.

Hundreds of alumni from around the world converged in New York September 14-15 for a beautiful late summer weekend of activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International House’s opening in 1924. More than 450 former I-House residents from the 35 different countries from every corner of the globe returned to 500 Riverside Drive to re-connect, share memories, and celebrate the Centennial at a series of events tied together with the theme “100 Years of Common Ground.” The festivities began with a “strolling brunch” in the Hall of History and Davis Hall, where President...