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Houses of SIS

SIS Houses exist to create community, engagement, and belonging for our students. At SIS, we KNOW that  “you can change the world AND have fun doing it.” SIS Houses help students gather around thematic interests, access people and activities that explore those themes, and incur NO additional academic requirements or obligations. SIS Legacy House is hosted by SIS Graduate Education and is our multi-generational house—for both undergraduate and graduate students—organized around the broader theme of “Global Leadership, Global Community.” We have alumni eagerly awaiting to become “House Fellows” to share wisdom and to help mobilize connections to our worldwide alumni.  

Benefits of joining: you’ll more easily “find your people.” And we think you’ll build lifelong connections with a diversity of folks that you may not otherwise have known are “your people" but for the chance to connect at SIS over shared passions.

What do houses do? You’ll find—and co-create—engaging events and activities. We’re not talking about typical panel discussions. A House event might include watching a popular Netflix show and critiquing what it gets wrong (or right!) about diplomacy, having a discussion at the Davenport Coffee Lounge about the ways in the which the current Star Wars shows reflect realities of post-conflict societies, or attending special behind-the-scenes embassy events.

At SIS, students arrive here ready to immerse yourselves in international studies and global events. No one needs to wait to get into advanced-level classes or decide on a specific focus or career track to join a house and start exploring and finding your home. Joining a house is a quick, low-stakes way to level up your SIS involvement. Read more about the different houses and then make your pick! 

Environment, Development & Health House

Welcome to the EDH House

Join our EDH House, where we foster a dynamic community dedicated to exploring critical topics at the intersection of environment, development, and health. From thought-provoking panel discussions featuring international organizations, think tanks, and local experts to hands-on experiences at Airlie Farm and networking opportunities with alumni, we provide a platform for students passionate about making a positive impact on the world.

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Associated Department

 

Meet Our Team

Faculty Advisor

Student Advisor

Robert Fiorile

Robert Fiorile

I decided to become an SIS Student Advisor because I want to foster community for AU students who are excited to grow their professional network and engage with critical topics such as global human development and climate change.

The Alphas

Welcome to the Alphas

Join our dynamic Alphas community to decode Money, Politics, and Power. Let's transform knowledge into action while having a blast along the way!

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Associated Department

 

Meet Our Team

Faculty Advisor

Student Advisor

Sophia Hamilton, the House 2 Student Advisor

Sophia Hamilton

I wanted to be an SIS House student advisor to assist and guide students.

Blue Pandas House

Welcome to the Blue Pandas House

This house hopes to provide a fun, safe, and supportive community that facilitates positive interaction among students within the Peace, Global Security, and Conflict Resolution, Justice, Ethics, and Human Rights, and Identity, Race, Gender, and Culture gateways and with others. Our mission is to create a safe and fun environment within which our members can get to know each other and other SIS students, and share in fun events that are a nice break from their day-to-day classes and other academic activities.

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Meet Our Team

Faculty Advisor

Student Advisor

Samuel Tustin

Samuel Tustin

I want to be a SIS student advisor because I wish to facilitate greater connections between students and faculty and create an environment where students can be engaged and exchange ideas.

The House of Hawks and Doves

Welcome to the House of Hawks and Doves

The House of Hawks and Doves aims to foster a community of students who are interested in international policy and security challenges. Students in the House of Hawks and Doves are excited by thinking and talking about geopolitical competition and modalities of international cooperation, as well as the dynamics of peace, war, conflict, and political violence.

Faculty in the associated Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security includes a number of former Ambassadors, Academics focused on bridging the gap between scholars and policy makers, and authors of influential books. A key aim of the House is to strengthen connections between faculty, graduate students and undergraduates.

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Associated Department

 

Meet Our Team

Faculty Advisor

Student Advisor

Henry Moskov

Henry Moskov

I hope to engage students in stimulating and holistic discussions on international relations!

House Chelonia

Welcome to House Chelonia

Chelonia is the Ancient Greek name given to all species of turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. In many cultures around the world, these creatures often symbolize thoughtfulness, wisdom, and knowledge. Their long lives give them a sense of perspective beyond us. These elements represent the ideas and practices that we want to encourage in SIS students.

House Chelonia seeks to provide an intellectual, social, and inclusive space for students to share and reflect on questions beyond individual issue areas in world politics. Practices such as being thoughtful, pursing knowledge, and acknowledging and engaging with perspectives beyond our own, embody the rationale at the core of this house.

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Associated Department

 

Meet Our Team

Faculty Advisor

Jason Rancatore Professorial Lecturer SIS | Global Inquiry

Student Advisor

Isabel Leong

Isabel Leong

I became an SIS student advisor to create opportunities for students to engage and connect with the broader SIS community.

Legacy House

Welcome to the Legacy House

Legacy House is the first and only Multi-generational Community at AU. What does that mean? It means that Undergrads, MA's, PhD's and Alum's from SIS and other schools come together for casual gatherings to network, support each other, and hear first-hand stories about building your own legacy. Legacy House brings people together with different levels of knowledge and experience inside and outside of academia. From Art and storytelling to career chats and job tips, Legacy House always offers food, music, and good company.

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Meet Our Team

Faculty Advisor

Student Advisor

Jared Rutherford

Jared Rutherford

I want to be an SIS student advisor to help undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students navigate their way through university through networking, social, and educational events.