Pena, who teaches Novel Writing, is the author of four other books.

Recognizing that the absence of previous exposure to a complex institutions such as the UN is a challenge to many diplomats, Vera Jelinek, divisional dean of the Center for Global Affairs, launched the “Tools for New Diplomats” preparatory workshops in 2000.

“Tools” has expanded to workshops, held over two two-day sessions in late August, which enable diplomats to become familiar with and use basic documents pertaining to the organization of the work of the General Assembly.  The workshops use hands-on methods to give delegates a sense of what goes on behind the scenes: preparation, negotiation, and decision-making relating to proposals by member states. Issues covered include the constitutional role and organizational structure of the UN; the UNGA agenda; the resolution drafting process; and decision-making and elections, among others.

This year’s workshops were attended by diplomats from 45 member states, representing all five UN regional groups. They were led by two current senior UN officials from the Office of Legal Affairs and the Department for General Assembly Affairs.

“The workshops support diplomats’ understanding of the UN system, provide opportunities for networking among attending diplomats, and  constitute a service to the member states and the international community,” said Jelinek.

The convening of the UNGA also gave Jelinek an opportunity to explain its workings, particularly in the context of the Palestinian application for statehood, on New York 1 News, WNYC’s Leonard Lopate Show and WNBC’s New York Nightly News.

Robert Hellmann

The latest employment figures released by the government provided no comfort to the 14 million unemployed Americans, but career and executive coach Robert Hellmann, an adjunct instructor in the Department of Career, Education, and Life Planning says that many of them are unaware of options that may help them find work.

Hellmann, who has been teaching at NYU-SCPS since 2004, advises job seekers to maximize their effectiveness in using four channels for job searching: ads, recruiters, direct contact, and networking.

“The key is to take control of your job search,” he says. “Don’t let someone else do the work for you.”

Hellmann elaborates on this in 10 Ways to Take Control of Your Job Search!, a column he wrote for theglasshammer.com. He also advised job seekers on navigating corporate job boards in a recent mediabistro.com article.

An expert on espionage and Russian crime syndicates, Galeotti said during this interview on Bloomberg News that the ring was a “massive operation” and evidence of a greater “tempo” in Russian spying activities.

“The Cold War never really ended,” he said.

Links:

“What’s the state of Russian foreign espionage?” In Moscow’s Shadows (Mark Galeotti’s blog)

• Before looking for a career, look inward and do some self-assessment.
• Develop a vision for your life — 10,20, even 40 years in the future; this will change, but at least it’s a working plan.
• Determine what your work-related values are — whether it’s to work alone, or with lots of people; to have a flexible schedule; or the amount of money you wish to earn.
• Then, put this on paper and use this list to begin identifying the types of jobs and careers you should pursue.

For more tips, watch Rob’s ABC interview or read his website for further advice.

LINKS:

• “Finding the Hidden Job Market,” event video, Part 1 and Part 2
• Career planning courses, events, and counseling at NYU-SCPS

Former NYU-SCPS student Michael Hastings wrote the article “The Runaway General” in Rolling Stone magazine that quoted General Stanley McChrystal (the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan) and aides criticizing the White House and which resulted in the general’s firing by President Obama.

A 2002 graduate, with a degree in Humanities (concentrating in Media Studies), Hastings cut his journalistic teeth during an internship at Newsweek while a student at McGhee. After writing several by-lined pieces, he eventually was hired full-time and became the magazine’s chief news correspondent in Baghdad.  While there, his girlfriend Andi Parhamovich, also a journalist, was killed in a terrorist ambush. These experiences are recounted in Hastings’s 2008 memoir, I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story.

After he left Newsweek in 2008 to became a freelance journalist, Hastings published pieces in several major media outlets, including the Washington Post. He had an important article on the war in Afghanistan published in GQ (May 2009).

Links:

“How ‘Rolling Stone’ Got Into McChrystal’s Inner Circle,” Newsweek.com (June 23, 2010)

“Hastings surprised by McChrystal fallout,” The Maddow Blog (June 22, 2010)

“10 Great Stories Michael Hastings Wrote Before He Brought Down Gen. Stanley McChrystal,” BusinessInsider.com (June 23, 2010)

From Hanson’s trend analysis:

“U.S. lodging industry capital expenditures are forecast to decrease in 2010, following a decrease in 2009 for the first year since 2003, following years of increasing and record “cap ex” spending.

The forecast for the coming year is for capital expenditures of approximately $3.0 billion, which represents a decrease of 9.9 percent from 2009 levels, following a decrease of 40 percent in 2009. An estimated $5.5 billion—a record amount—was invested in capital improvements for existing U.S. hotels in 2008.”

LINKS:

TREND ANALYSIS REPORT: U.S. Lodging Industry Capital Expenditures Forecast to Decrease Again in 2010 (06/22/10)

Bjorn Hanson Appointed New Head of NYU Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management (Press release 06/07/10)

The Center for Publishing

The seminars are conceived as a public service effort to help educate publishers, which in turn promotes literacy and fosters the development of an expanded reading public in the Gulf, the Middle East, and North Africa. Faculty of the NYU-SCPS Center for Publishing – including Peter Balis (John Wiley & Sons), Philip Patrick (Random House), and Mario Pulice (Little, Brown and Company) – will conduct a series of intensive, four-day seminars for the growing community of publishing professionals in the 22-nation Arab region.

The first seminars will focus on the challenges of developing a targeted publishing strategy; best practices for marketing, sales, distribution, and graphic design; and digital publishing, including social media, mobile, and the use of digital media in libraries and academia in the Arab region.

The program will be held November 6-11, 2010, with additional sessions planned for spring 2011.

LINKS:
NYU-SCPS and KITAB to Launch Publishing Executive Education Program at NYU Abu Dhabi (Press Release 5/26/10)

NYU Center for Publishing To Host Training Seminar in Abu Dhabi (Publishers Weekly 5/26/10)

Rosemary Scanlon

As NYU Schack’s Director of Academic Affairs, Scanlon will oversee all academic components of the graduate program as well as work with Divisional Dean James Stuckey and the faculty in developing strategic planning initiatives.  Additionally, she will spearhead recruitment, interviewing, evaluation, and promotion of all new faculty members.

Before joining the faculty at the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Scanlon began her career as an economics instructor at the College of William and Mary and went on to work as an economist for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey before eventually becoming their chief economist from 1983 through 1993.  During her tenure she initiated a wide range of research programs on the economy, demography, economic impact analysis of capital investment projects, and the economic development needs of New York City and its region.

In recent years, Scanlon has authored numerous economic studies, including analyses of New York City’s need for electricity, transportation, and affordable housing and has authored several landmark studies on the economic impact of the arts on New York City. Most recently she co-authored a report on the development potential of the Gowanus Canal district in Brooklyn, which was covered by the New York Post (5/11/10).

LINKS:

NYU Schack Institute Names Rosemary Scanlon Director of Academic Affairs (Press Release 5/25/10)

From the NYU Pub Posts blog:

No matter what the medium, says Sacks—whether it is through newer and better versions of tablets that will contain Qualcomm’s mirasol product debuting sometime in 2011, or some other light-reflective electronic paper currently on the market—superior content is the necessary tool for the survival of the publishing industry. Those left on the island will be swift, nimble, and niche scavengers. They will know how to monetize content and to use cutting edge technologies. And they will be adept at utilizing citizen journalism, social media and location-centric sites like Foursquare and Gowalla, not to mention understanding the importance of globalization. Sacks insisted that there must be accurate systems of accountability for all print products for a more sustainable environment.

Read the entire post “The Future of Print: Bo Sacks Speaks at SPI” (6/9/10)  at NYU Pub Posts, where you can keep up with further news from NYU SPI 2010 and the NYU-SCPS Center for Publishing.

Related links:

• Good Reads, Smart Readers: A New View of e-Books: Open Road’s Jane Friedman @ NYU, 11/2009 (video)
• Free AND Paid Content: Business Models That Work: Wired‘s Chris Anderson moderated, 09/2009 (video)
• NYU Summer Publishing Institute