John Sexton, president of New York University, delivered the 2015 Ashok C. Sani Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence Lecture to a packed auditorium of undergraduate students, alumni and guests from the family of alumnus Ashok C. Sani (BS ’74).  This year's talk, entitled "Ecumenism and the University," was hosted by NYU Stern’s Undergraduate College and Business & Society Program in conjunction with the “Law, Business & Society” course, a part of Stern’s social impact core curriculum.  

President Sexton described NYU as the “first ecumenical university, located in the world’s first ecumenical city.”  Describing NYC as a “community of communities,” composed of individuals from around the world with neighborhoods reflecting nearly every country across the globe, he argued that New York embodies the virtues of ecumenism – embracing others and ourselves through a new world view and celebrating our differences.  NYU, he argued, is deeply intertwined with New York City itself and by virtue of its founding vision – Albert Gallatin’s idea of being “In and of the City” – is similarly committed to ecumenical ideals: welcoming and supporting diversity.

He also shared a few pieces of advice with students:

• Don’t be afraid to travel outside of your comfort zone.  “Play another octave of the piano,” he urged.
• Find the right life partner
• Insist on being better and making the world better every day