Foreword from Director Cynthia Rothschild

Cynthia Rothschild Director, William and Elizabeth Kahane United Nations Program at Occidental College

In June of 2020, when I signed my first Oxy contract as the new director of the Kahane U.N. Program, I certainly could not–and no one really could–have guessed what the rest of 2020 might bring. And if we’d have guessed, we’d have likely underestimated not only the density of the obstacles but also the emotional impact of the everincreasing anxieties they brought–for students, faculty and staff alike. No one had a simple year. And through all of the challenges–whether sparked by the COVID pandemic-induced public health risks and heightened sense of physical vulnerabilities, the outpouring of rage and protest related to racist policing that gripped the nation for the better part of the summer, the fires on the West Coast that displaced people from everything called “home,” or the daily anxieties from a brutal and sometimes unfathomable electoral season–through all of these, the fall 2020 Kahane U.N. Program maintained its focus and provided extraordinary opportunities for students to grow.

In many ways, those involved in the program–students, faculty and staff alike–excelled as we brought our best selves to learning, teaching, sharing, planning and exercising flexibility. Everyone “rose to the occasion.” In the end, I believe the program generated remarkable experiences for the student group. Time and time again, staff and students found ways throughout the semester to support and look out for one another. And the students provided mature and meaningful contributions for their work hosts. I believe the academic and professional experiences created for the 2020 group were rich and consequential. We all went through a very life-shaping time together and I’m grateful for the camaraderie of all connected to the semester.

I’m also deeply appreciative of every aspect of my “onboarding” and transition into this leadership role. My mentors could not have been more generous in their coaching; all made my shift from “abject Oxy neophyte” painless and their support was palpable at every moment. And I am especially and particularly indebted to Jacques Fomerand, the assistant director, for his unyielding solidarity, deep wisdom and good cheer. I am so very grateful, as well, to the staff of IPO and the Kahane U.N. Program Committee. A special thank you to Bill and Elizabeth Kahane, as well, of course, for continued belief in and support of the program.

The 2020 group had a special bond; they will necessarily be a U.N. cohort unlike any other in the program’s history. The circumstances we all faced were truly remarkable, and I am indebted to this extraordinary group of young people for their willingness to be flexible and open and–through it all–to laugh through adversity. They were willing to be resilient not only in terms of logistics but also in terms of forming emotional connections with one another across time zones, geographic boundaries and seemingly unrelenting challenges.

The students’ academic work and their professionalism in their internships remained of extremely high caliber. I have been so lucky to inherit a strong program, solid relationships and good will. These all allowed a relatively seamless transition and were foundational to the Kahane U.N. Program’s success during a tumultuous year.