From December 14-17, the CISA International Fellows Class of 2020 traveled to New York City to participate in the NDU New York Field Study Practicum. The travelers included 38 CISA International Fellows from 29 countries, who were accompanied by 70 of their family members. NDU President, VADM F. J. Roegge, NDU Provost, Dr. John Yaeger, CISA Dean of Faculty, Dr. R.E. Burnett, and ISMO Deputy Director, COL (Ret) Jorge Ascunce attended the NYC Field Study Practicum as well.
During the trip, the CISA International Fellows and their families received a tour of New York City from experienced guides who provided them historical and cultural background on New York City and its immense diversity. Fellows and their families also had the opportunity to visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty as part of the program. The Field Study also included optional opportunities for International Fellows and their families to attend The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, as well as a performance by the Radio City Rockettes.
On Monday, 16 December, the Fellows participated in an academic day program consisting of a briefing from the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau Lower Manhattan Security Initiative (NYPD-LMSI), a roundtable discussion with the New York Times Executive Editor Mr. Dean Banquet and the Editorial Page Editor Mr. James Bennet, and a guided tour of the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
The Fellows raved about how important the trip was for them and their families to better understand American society and how NYC came to be one of America’s most talked about cities. For the children on the trip, the New York FSP provided a valuable opportunity to visit significant landmarks and understand key events in American history that made NYC the icon it is today. Just as significantly, the tour provided an opportunity for Fellows, their spouses, and children to interact with each other outside of the classroom, further cementing bonds already formed throughout their time at NDU.
Funding from the NDU-Foundation was critical in facilitating broad participation from the families of International Fellows. The generous support from the Foundation defrayed the costs associated with transportation, resulting in a greatly decreased cost for each family member’s participation. The NYC FSP had more spouses and children participate than would have otherwise been possible. Our sincere thanks to the NDU Foundation for helping to foster friends of the United States across the globe!
Photocred: Fodors Travel Guide