FDU's United Nations Pathway

Fairleigh Dickinson University has been associated with the United Nations since its inception (1945) and documents a five-decade long path between our campuses and U.N. headquarters. The founder of the University, Peter Sammartino, particularly emphasized the importance of the United Nations and would regularly bring U.N. ambassadors to speak and teach on campus.

FDU's U.N. Pathway Lecture Series

Begun in the Spring of 2002, this successful lecture series brings ambassadors from throughout the world speak to students about current events and issues of global significance.

Current and former U.N. ambassadors from the Ambassador’s Club at the United Nations lecture (and teach courses) at the University. In addition to ambassadors visiting the campuses, lectures are broadcast from the United Nations headquarters in New York City to the University’s interactive television (ITV) facilities.

• Overview of the Ambassador's Club at the United Nations

Frequently, schools and departments of the University's college's will also sponsor lecturers to speak about issues relevant to current course material.

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) Accreditation

Fairleigh Dickinson University has become one of just three universities in the country to earn accreditation as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations. This designation provides the University community with special access to U.N. facilities, briefings and programs.

• UN Department of Public Information: NGO Section
• Questions and answers about NGO-DPI
• UN Secretariat, Agengies and Programmes (Focus Points)

Three representatives

As an accredited NGO, Fairleigh Dickinson University was able to name three individuals who can attend U.N. functions. They are:

• J. Michael Adams, University President
• Michael Sperling, Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary, Distributed and Global Learning
• Dalila Suhonjic, Director of Global Initiatives

As FDU representatives, Adams, Sperling and Suhonjic are allowed entry to all U.N. conferences and meetings (excluding Security Council sessions), as well as access to the U.N. research library.