Students as Leaders
Students as Leaders
Our nearly two-dozen student councils and interest groups provide students with opportunities to pursue leadership, meet like-minded peers, enhance professional development, engage in community organizing, and take collective action.
As part of the Student Leadership Council, I was able to deepen my connections within the Silver community with peers who are passionate about not only leading, but also cultivating community as we welcomed a new cohort of Silver graduate students.
Building Community for BIPOC First Generation Students
As a Mexican-American, first generation college graduate and graduate student passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, Diane Valle, MSW ’23, sought visibility and community for fellow Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) first generation social work students. With support from Silver’s Office of Inclusive Engagement and Student Life, she founded the group First Gen Students of Color, which raises the profile of students like her and connects them to one another as well as resources at the School and wider University.
Being a student leader at Silver was not only a journey to make the unheard voices heard, but a journey to cultivate communities that support each other and overcome the difficulties together.
A Network of Support During Orientation and Beyond
Each year, MSW Orientation Leaders (OLs), welcome more than 300 new members of the NYU Silver Community during our Fall MSW Orientation. OLs are volunteers with our Office of Inclusive Engagement and Student Life who are each assigned a group of new MSW students that they lead and support during Orientation and remain connected to throughout the year. They open doors to the many professional, academic, and personal growth opportunities afforded by NYU Silver and provide information and resources that foster a smooth transition to graduate student life.
The Next Generation of Nonprofit and Public Sector Leadership
Through specialized educational initiatives like our Adaptive Leadership Fellowship and Macro Practice in Organizations Focused Learning Opportunity, we are training students to exercise leadership in their practicum placements and assume leadership positions in their professional careers.
Helping to build the Trans + Queer = Collective has allowed me to find safety, validation, and support at Silver...Being involved in student groups has been a sustaining and grounding force throughout my MSW program.
Fostering Community While Celebrating Student Initiatives
Throughout the academic year, NYU Silver students pursue creative projects that surpass their classroom and practicum requirements. Class of 2024 Graduate Student Association (GSA) President Samantha “Sam” Luxmikanthan and Office of Inclusive Engagement and Student Life (IESL) MSW Intern Jenny Lau were inspired to create a school-wide event designed to elevate these innovative initiatives.
