Tag: News

I-House Welcomes Vreni Hommes ’89 and Gautam Shirhattikar ’05 to the Board of Trustees

Written by International House on December 4, 2025. Posted in Alumni News, Announcements, News.

At its October 29 meeting, the International House Board of Trustees elected alumni Vreni Hommes ’89 and Gautam Shirhattikar ’05 as its newest members. “We are thrilled to welcome two accomplished alumni to the Board of Trustees,” said Sebastian Fries, President & CEO. “Vreni and Gautam are passionate about our I-House community and deeply committed to our future success. Each brings a unique blend of experience and insight to the Board. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and strategic expertise as we prepare for I-House’s second century.” Hommes rejoins the board...

Annual PEAR Weekend Held in Brussels

Written by International House on November 11, 2025. Posted in Alumni News, News.

Old friends gathered and new cross-generational connections formed during the 2025 Freunde/Pan European Alumni Reunion weekend held November 7–9 in Brussels, Belgium.Nearly 50 alumni and friends representing five decades of I-House traveled from Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA to attend the three-day weekend of meetings, tours, and dinners.Belgium is one of the six founding members of the European Union, and Brussels serves as the de facto capital of the European Union as home of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and, along with...

I-House Hosts an Interreligious Dialogue with Union Theological Seminary

Written by International House on November 10, 2025. Posted in News.

On November 4, International House hosted faculty of the Union Theological Seminary (UTS) for a wide-ranging panel discussion on religion, identity, and interreligious understanding.UTS President Rev. Serene Jones led the discussion alongside panelists Benjamin Kamine, Assistant Teaching Professor of Interreligious Engagement; Su Yon Pak; Associate Professor of Integrative and Field-Based Education; and Rev. Greg Snyder, Assistant Professor of Buddhist Studies. In her opening remarks, Rev. Jones noted the significant historical ties and shared identity between I-House and UTS.“We share a...

“We Need Everyone in This Battle”: A Fireside Chat with Teresa C. Younger

Written by International House on October 20, 2025. Posted in News.

On October 16, International House hosted Teresa Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, for a powerful fireside chat on what it takes to build community and address gender disparities globally. Younger reflected on her life’s journey, from Girl Scout to an eventual leader of the ACLU and a celebrated advocate for women and girls of color. The talk explored themes of moral courage, systemic inequity, and the importance of building community rooted in trust, respect, and shared humanity. Younger shared stories about her upbringing in rural North Dakota and how her...

Brewing an Empire: A Conversation with Gabby Rubinstein ’97

Written by International House on October 10, 2025. Posted in Alumni News, News.

What does it take to brew a coffee empire in the world’s greatest city? According to I-House alumna and Joe Coffee co-founder Gabby Rubinstein ’97, it starts with passion, kindness, and a little theatricality. Rubinstein joined the I-House community for a high-energy conversation on entrepreneurship on October 8. The talk was part of a new series sponsored by the Götz Mäuser ’91 Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship, a new program at I-House designed to empower next-generation changemakers to lead with empathy, resilience, integrity, and cultural intelligence. I-House President...

Yanis Ben Amor Discusses The Coming AI Wave

Written by International House on October 8, 2025. Posted in Alumni News, News.

International House welcomed back alumnus Yanis Ben Amor ’04, Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University’s Climate School, for a fireside chat on the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence on September 30. Moderated by I-House resident Archana Dhinakar Bala and Columbia University student Yatin Jain, the program drew a lively audience eager to consider how the rise of AI will shape careers, education, and society. Prof. Ben Amor began by recalling his being unexpectedly—and initially reluctantly—seated across the...

I-House Celebrates 101 Years with Welcome Sunday Supper

Written by International House on October 8, 2025. Posted in Alumni News, News.

International House celebrated its 101st birthday at a festive Welcome Sunday Supper on September 15, welcoming back alumna Tirana Hassan ’03, a globally recognized leader in human rights and humanitarian protection, as keynote speaker. President Sebastian Fries introduced Hassan, who has held senior roles at Save the Children, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, where she most recently served as Executive Director. Just two days before the event, she was announced as the incoming CEO of Doctors Without Borders U.S. Hassan noted that I-House residents today confront...