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Daniel Munier

Daniel Munier

MA, International Education

After graduating from the NYU International Education program in 2012, Daniel pursued a career in Refugee Resettlement, as an Employment and Education Trainer at Catholic Charities. Daniel says that "from gaining more nuanced cross-cultural understandings, investigating systems/markets of humanitarian assistance, to realizing the complexities of education in conflict, the program has immensely prepared me for my current line of work."

Undergraduate University: Nazareth College of Rochester

Undergraduate Major: Economics and French

Current job: Senior Program Officer, Advocacy, Scholars at Risk

As a Senior Program Officer for SAR’s Advocacy team, Dan oversees SAR’s reporting of attacks on higher education communities for SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, conducts case advocacy for the Scholars-in-Prison Project, and produces reports and publications, including SAR’s Free to Think report series, to raise awareness of global and regional issues. Before joining SAR, Dan worked in refugee resettlement at Catholic Charities Community Services, interned for the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, and worked in international education and English language programming in France and the US. He holds an M.A. in International Education from New York University and a B.A. in Economics and French from Nazareth College.

What are some successes or challenges you’ve had during your career?

Dealing with resource scarcity and stakeholder apathy are some classic challenges I know I have regularly had in front of me during my career -- and will almost certainly continue to have -- but I've also had some motivational experiences, like learning about the release of imprisoned scholars and students on whose behalf I've campaigned, training college students in human rights advocacy, and creating interest in academic freedom issues through the annual Free to Think publication series I co-produce.

What was the best class you took as an IE student?

Politics, Conflict, and Education with Dana Burde.

What was your favorite part of the IE program?

The interdisciplinarity of IE! While the program already has firm roots in the areas of education, sociology, economics and philosophy, it actively challenges students to go further and branch out to all that disciplines NYU has to offer. I was very satisfied in taking several electives in international politics, non-profit management and human rights education.

Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share with prospective or current students?

Make sure to explore classes outside of Steinhardt -- Wagner, GSAS, and Draper all have great offerings for IE students. Internships, volunteer projects and conferences are essential to making the most out of this program! Scope out your area of interest and the organizations working on this area throughout New York. You would be surprised what professional and scholarly doors open when you reach out to others.

Any last thoughts you'd like to share with prospective students about the program?

Keep an open mind while in this program. I was fairly set on international development education from the start of the program, quickly shifted to education in emergencies/conflict and left the program with a strong interest in peace and human rights education. Through the various courses and teaching styles your mind will wander. And that’s a good thing.