The Silver Community
A Diverse, Supportive Learning Community
NYU Silver is distinguished by the strong sense of community among our students, faculty, staff, and alumni, who are united by a commitment to service and social justice. As a relatively small school within a top-tier research university based in one of the world’s most dynamic cities, NYU Silver encourages faculty-student interaction, incubates and sustains a wide range of student organizations, and fosters lifelong friendships, while providing access to all that NYU, NYC, and our campuses in Rockland, Westchester, and Shanghai have to offer.
The cohort I entered the MSW program with were a wonderful group of students. We stuck together throughout our two years here. We studied with each other, we fought with each other, we had happy hour with each other. Everything we did, we did together, and I think that’s what was important to push us along.
Building Virtual Bonds
While the pandemic precluded an in-person breakfast to start Fall 2020 semester, students still had a chance to build community at a virtual breakfast hosted by Associate Dean of Student Affairs Courtney O'Mealley. Students gathered with Dean O'Mealley via Zoom as he prepared foods informed by his Jamaican heritage, while students shared their family breakfast food traditions, ranging from arepas to eggs and grits to a bodega bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. Throughout the semester, there will be more opportunities like this for students to get to know our deans and each other.
Amplifying Our Collective Voice for Social Justice
At its core, social work is social justice and that work cannot be effectively pursued alone. At Silver, we encourage students to be inclusive leaders, and to amplify our collective voice for social justice at our own institution as well as in the wider society. We foster leadership in many ways, including our Social Justice and Diversity Professional Development Grant program and membership on our Social Justice Praxis Committee and Silver’s Action Against Racism committees.
Follow Your Passion and Find Your People
Connect with like-minded peers through our nearly two dozen student councils, interest groups, and affinity organizations
Exemplifying the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Classroom and Out
NYU’s prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award recognizes outstanding faculty who exemplify the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through teaching excellence, leadership, social justice activism, and community building. In 2020, two NYU Silver faculty members, Associate Professor Darcey Merritt and Clinical Assistant Professor Kirk “Jae” James, were so honored. Both have extensive experience as practitioners and researchers who challenge inequitable systems, serve as mentors for students, and enhance social justice, inclusion, and belonging in our School and society.
I left NYU with friends, family, mentors, colleagues, and even found my wife there. These years will be some of the best of your life, soak it all in.
Establishing Cross-Cultural Connections
The Silver Language Partners program pairs native and non-native English speaking MSW students to foster cross-cultural friendships and boost the latter’s conversational English skills. The pairs get together at least 10 times during the academic year to engage in casual conversation while doing activities like going to museums, taking dance classes, eating meals, or exploring the city. Justin Leider, MSW ’20, Yasmine Li, MSW ’20 and Ling Ding, MSW ’21, have been Silver Language Partners since fall 2019. Justin and Yasmine shared their reflections on the experience.
