The American University of Paris - Miscellaneous

Founding History

Sara Wynn — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:03:31 +0000

Celebrating ��'s Past and Present

Hosted on the anniversary of the signing of the original charter of the American College in Paris, Founding Week is a seven-day celebration both on campus and around the world that honors everyone who has helped make The American University of Paris what it is today. This year, it runs from March 25 to 31.

Founding Week is a chance for �� community members to come together as global explorers, wherever they are in the world, to recognize just how special it is to belong to a unique international organization such as ��. It is an annual celebration of both the people who established our extraordinary global community, and those who continue to strengthen it today. Community members attend celebrations across the world, engaging in cross-border conversations that carry on our founder’s legacy of openness to cultural exchange and engagement with international cooperation.

Why Founding Week?

Since then, our community has achieved more than 60 years of rigorous academic discussion on the banks of the Seine. Students have spent six decades putting theory into practice with Cultural Program study trips across the world. They’ve forged lifelong friendships in the AMEX Café and collaborated on cross-border projects with peers from over 100 countries. The belief in the importance of an international community connects global explorers across our history and today inspires new students to join the ongoing debate.

Our Founder

Dr. Lloyd A. DeLamater

When Dr. Lloyd A. DeLamater, a former US State Department official, decided in 1962 to found the American College in Paris, he sought to “bridge the gap of narrow nationalisms” between disparate, isolated countries, creating an institution that would educate those ready to embrace the intellectual adventures and cultural challenges inherent in studying abroad. He promoted a learning model that facilitates the construction of students’ own identities and communities through engagement with an international and cosmopolitan city. He envisioned a place where students could move beyond the borders and beliefs of their home countries and launch themselves into an increasingly interconnected world.

ACP began in a series of rented rooms in the basement of the American Church of Paris with an entering class of 100 students. Describing this first intake, DeLamater praised not only students’ academic performance, but also how each studied French as a foreign language, with many achieving fluency and rapidly adapting to French culture. Today, our consolidated campus on the banks of the Seine hosts a student body representing over 100 nationalities. We’ve graduated more than 20,000 alumni who live and work in 145 countries worldwide. By engaging in rigorous liberal arts scholarship across cultures, languages and disciplines, our community collaborates toward tangible solutions to global problems, united by a respect for diversity, by the celebration of difference and by a deep commitment to transformative liberal arts learning.

Faces of ��

Sara Wynn — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 14:53:48 +0000

The Founding of ��

Data Science and the Environment

Sara Wynn — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:51:06 +0000

Major Overview

��’s Data Science and the Environment major provides rigorous training in the use of quantitative tools to understand and address pressing environmental challenges. Students develop skills in data analysis and mathematics while gaining a deep understanding of environmental systems, sustainability, and climate science. Graduates are prepared for careers in environmental data analysis, climate policy, conservation technology, and sustainable resource management, leveraging data science to drive solutions for a healthier planet.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Environment

Major Components

Build Your Degree

Core Courses: Core Courses

We aim to help you develop a range of skills, capacities, and modes of inquiry that will be crucial for your future since employers and graduate schools are looking for the critical thinking and innovative problem-solving skills that are associated with a liberal arts education, including sophisticated writing abilities, willingness to pose difficult questions, and an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts surrounding a topic or decision.

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Electives: Electives

Each elective provides you with entry to a variety of subject areas which you can choose among to further focus your studies. With the help of your academic advisor, you’ll be able to tailor your major so that it most effectively prepares you for the next step in your academic and professional journey.

See all Major Electives

Core Courses

We aim to help you develop a range of skills, capacities, and modes of inquiry that will be crucial for your future since employers and graduate schools are looking for the critical thinking and innovative problem-solving skills that are associated with a liberal arts education, including sophisticated writing abilities, willingness to pose difficult questions, and an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts surrounding a topic or decision.

MA1020 Applied Statistics I

Introduces the tools of statistical analysis. Combines theory with extensive data collection and computer-assisted laboratory work. Develops an attitude of mind accepting uncertainty and variability as part of problem analysis and decision-making. Topics include: exploratory data analysis and data transformation, hypothesis-testing and the analysis of variance, simple and multiple regression with residual and influence analyses.

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SC1020 Environmental Science

This course is intended to introduce non-scientists to key concepts and approaches in the study of the environment. With a focus on the scientific method, we learn about natural systems using case studies of disruptions caused by human activity. Topics include global warming, deforestation, waste production and recycling, water pollution, environmental toxins and sustainable development. The relationships between science and policy, the media, and citizen action are also addressed. *Lab required. Please note that an additional fee will be charged for this course.

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MA1030 Calculus I

Introduces differential and integral calculus. Develops the concepts of calculus as applied to polynomials, logarithmic, and exponential functions. Topics include: limits, derivatives, techniques of differentiation, applications to extrema and graphing; the definite integral; the fundamental theorem of calculus, applications; logarithmic and exponential functions, growth and decay; partial derivatives. Appropriate for students in the biological, management, computer and social sciences.

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DS1060 Data Science I: Methods And Context

This project-based course introduces data science by looking at the whole cycle of activities involved in data science projects. Students will learn how to think about problems with rigor and creativity, ethically applying data science skills to address those problems. The course project will address the theoretical, mathematical and computational challenges involved in data science.

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SC2010 Contemporary Environmental Issues

This course will focus on anthropogenic environmental emergencies, such as global warming, habitat destruction, and the introduction of invasive species. Students will investigate specific cases discussed in recent peer-reviewed scientific articles, and will evaluate possible solutions to these crises from multiple perspectives.

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MA2041 Linear Algebra

Treats applications in economics and computer science, limited to Euclidean n-space. Topics include: the linear structure of space, vectors, norms and angles, transformations of space, systems of linear equations and their applications, the Gauss-Jordan method, matrices, determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Uses Mathematica for graphics and algorithms.

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DS2065 Data Science II: Theory And Practice

The 21st century has seen a big increase in the amount of data which is made accessible. Social media such as Facebook, online shops such as Amazon and many others, are all gathering raw data. But what can be done about this data? Data Science covers tools and methods around the extraction of knowledge from data. Such tools cover its collection, storing, processing and analysis. In this course we will learn about several of the most important tools in the above flow and will apply them to real-world examples.

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SC3010 Planetary And Environmental Data Science

We will explore how to understand environmental systems from data science angles. The course encourages students to think critically and reason quantitatively about an environmental problem rather than just focusing on getting a specific answer. This course will have hands-on practical work with real data, R or Python, and statistical or machine learning software packages.

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SC4095 Senior Project

A Senior Project is an independent study representing a Major Capstone Project that needs to be registered using the Senior Project registration form. (Download: https://aupforms.formstack.com/workflows/senior_project)

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SC4098 Capstone Internship

Internships may be taken for 1 or 4 credits. Students may do more than one internship, but internship credit cannot cumulatively total more than 4 credits.

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Accommodations & Restaurants

Sara Wynn — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:21:08 +0000

Accommodations

Restaurants

Take-away

Gyros/Apollon (Greek) -$ *24 rue Jean Nicot
Phuoc Banh Mi (Vietnamese) -$ *15 rue Malar
Yummy (sushi) -$ * 2 bis rue Malar
Sushi shop (sushi) -$ *86 rue Saint-Dominique
Bar A Pates & Salades (salades) -$ *13 rue Malar
La Maison italienne - $ *22 rue Jean Nicot
Chez Do (Thai) -$ *20 rue Jean Nicot

Boulangeries

PariSeven -$ * 20 rue Jean Nicot
La Parisienne -$ *85 rue Saint-Dominique
Boulangerie Liberte -$ *58 rue Saint-Dominique
Le Moulin de la Vierge -$ *64 rue Saint-Dominique

Sit-down

Le Petit Cler (French) -$$
Vaijayanta (Indian) -$
Rosemarie (French) -$$
Apollon (Greek) -$/$$
Le Malabar (veggie & vegan options) - $$
Sonata Pizzeria (Pizza & Italian) -$
Di Felice (Italian) - $$

Grocery Stores (with salad bars, sandwiches and hot food options)

Franprix
Carrefour
Monoprix
G20

Keynote Speakers

Sara Wynn — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:15:47 +0000

The Three Societies

Sara Wynn — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:12:53 +0000

Venue & Transportation

Sara Wynn — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 09:52:58 +0000

Map of ��

Official address and location

6 rue du Colonel Combes 75007

Combes Student Life Center: 6, rue du Colonel Combes
Quai d'Orsay Learning Commons: 69, quai d'Orsay*
Administration Building: 5, boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg
�� Bookstore, Classrooms and Faculty Offices: 2 bis, Passage Landrieu
Classrooms and Faculty Offices: 102, rue Saint-Dominique (entrance at 16, passage Landrieu)
Grenelle Teaching and Mentoring Center: 147, rue de Grenelle
Monttessuy Center for the Arts: 9, rue de Monttessuy

Principal access to the Quai d'Orsay Learning Commons is through 6, rue du Colonel Combes.

Map of the American Church

Transportation

Public transportation is very well developed in Paris, making transportation to and from the conference venue a breeze. To decrease your commute time, we recommend that you do not stay anywhere that will require more than one metro transfer to get to the conference venue (6 rue Colonel Combes, 75007, Paris). The 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 13th (Place d’Italie), 14th (Denfert Rochereau), 15th (Montparnasse) or 16th districts.

Please note that the RER C (stop: Pont d’Alma) or the Metro line 9 (stop: Alma Morceau) will bring you within 5 minutes walking distance from the conference venue. Buses: 28, 42, 63, 80 and 92 will also bring you withing 5 minutes walking distance from the venue. The metro line 8 (stop: La Tour Maubourg) is about a 10-minute walking distance from the venue.

Useful sites

Getting to and from Paris Airports

Office of Tourism : Official Site

Jane Basson’s Leadership Journey Through Aerospace

Sara Wynn — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:15:54 +0000

Jane Basson '99, Head of Transformation and Corporate Secretary at Airbus Defense and Space, has spent decades leading change, shaping culture and empowering teams at the forefront of global aerospace innovation. But her path was far from a direct flight.

Basson’s journey has always been international. Born in the United States to South African parents, she spent her early years in South Africa before her family sought a future beyond apartheid. Relocated by her father’s American multinational company, the family settled in France for eight years before moving to the United Kingdom where Basson graduated high school.

Despite urging from her parents and some half-hearted attempts, Basson resisted pursuing higher education. “I wanted to have adventures and live my life—not sit on another school bench.” She moved to Paris via Casablanca, arriving with “basically no academic qualification to do anything,” as she tells it. While she was content to work entry-level jobs as a bilingual secretary, clock in and out, and have a good time, the sudden loss of someone very close shook that mindset and became a turning point in her life. “I suddenly realized life is not a bed of roses…you need to decide what you want to do.” Earning a degree was key to taking ownership of her future.

Attending �� was a pivotal part of her takeoff. As a voracious reader who had always enjoyed working with words, she majored in corporate communications and journalism with a minor in business and immersed herself in her studies. “I went from ‘off’ to ‘on,’” she says. In a business administration class, she read a case study on Airbus and was struck by the cutting-edge company’s collaborative model between teams working across sites in France, Germany, the UK and Spain.

In 2000, after graduating magna cum laude with departmental honors, Basson took a vacation to Toulouse—where Airbus is based. At a dinner party, she met someone who knew of a job in communications at Airbus who put her in touch with the company. She was hired immediately. “I had strong references that attested to my writing skills, exactly what they were looking for. I would never have gotten the job if I hadn’t had a degree from ��,” she says.

At first, learning to navigate the aerospace industry was overwhelming. When handed two carloads of reading material, she thought, “I didn’t even realize there were this many different types of planes.” She supported senior media specialists by drafting press releases, assembling press kits and interviewing experts in areas such as flight physics and environmental issues across the vast company—not unlike journalism. “I met all these fantastic people with incredible skills and got to write.” Over time, she thrived in the role and gained intimate knowledge of the company. These days, the copious technical jargon and acronyms—a language Basson calls “Airbussian”—are second nature.

Basson didn’t expect her junior position at Airbus to evolve into a leadership career, growing alongside a rapidly transforming industry. Her sharp writing skills propelled her to higher-level assignments, including executive speechwriting, and her bi-cultural Franco-English background proved an asset. Airbus restructured its communications department and called on her to lead the new writing team and oversee company-wide messaging.

In 2003, she rose to Vice President Internal Communications, where she faced one of Airbus’s most high-profile crises: the fallout from the production delay of the A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft. Despite being a technological breakthrough, misalignment between Airbus’s French and German teams led to wiring flaws, manufacturing delays, and layoffs. Basson’s team had the daunting task of keeping employees informed and engaged throughout the turmoil.

Ready to move on from communications, Basson felt her time at Airbus was over. However, new leadership convinced her to stay and apply her expertise to human resources. In 2008, she became Vice President Culture and Change Management, developing programs to support Airbus’s business transformation strategy and rebuild trust between employees and leadership amidst major restructuring. Basson believes that driving culture change is less about national differences than about shared values and behavior.

In 2016, Basson launched Leadership University, a groundbreaking initiative to democratize leadership training. Traditionally reserved for executives, the award-winning program made development opportunities accessible to 20,000+ managers through dedicated learning spaces around the world.

After years of leadership in Airbus’s Commercial Aircraft division, Basson transitioned to Defense and Space in 2021. She remains energized about the company’s potential. “It’s so huge, so high-tech, so multinational, and there are tons of opportunities to keep learning.” Basson’s mission is to empower teams to not just accept change, but lead it. “How do we engage employees, explain why change is necessary, and get them to embrace transformation?” For Basson, real transformation starts with ownership.

For decades, communications and culture executive Jane Basson ’99 has shaped multinational teams and driven impact in the aerospace industry

Alumna

Miscellaneous

Class of 1999

Atelier de Théorie Politique – Paris

Sara Wynn — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 09:39:06 +0000

L'atelier de théorie politique Paris (ATPP) is a forum open to a wide range of approaches to political theory and philosophy, promoting the argumentative testing of current thinking at the frontier between political science, social science, and normative philosophy. A monthly discussion forum organized by the Centre de recherches politiques de Sciences Po (CEVIPOF - Sciences Po), the Centre d'études et de recherches de sciences administratives et politiques (CECP - Université Panthéon Assas), the Centre des savoirs sur le politique - Recherches et analyses (CESPRA - EHESS/CNRS) and the �� Center for Critical Democracy Studies (CCDS), the aim of this forum is to bring together researchers and students of political theory, whatever their background and interests, to reflect on the ways in which political practices and institutions are justified and criticized. For more information, please visit: https://atpp.hypotheses.org/.

Kendall West

Sara Wynn — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:59:41 +0000

For Senior Kendall West, the decision to study abroad wasn’t initially part of the plan. Originally from Chicago, Kendall applied to 16 universities before discovering ��, which he describes as “the perfect opportunity to jumpstart an international career.”

“I wasn’t really looking to go international,” Kendall admits, “but when I came across ��, the mix of English instruction, an American-style education, and being in Paris made it stand out.” Financial feasibility also played a role, as Kendall received a scholarship and worked with the University to secure additional financial support upon his acceptance.

��’s smaller community and close-knit campus life appealed to Kendall, particularly the strong relationships with professors both inside and outside the classroom. “I’ve loved having that proximity with professors,” he shares, noting how this connection has enriched his academic experience.

Since arriving at �� in 2021, Kendall has not missed an opportunity to get involved in campus life, holding leadership roles that reflect his passion for community. He has served as a representative in Student Government since 2022, advocating for the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. He also founded and continues to be a part of the Wine Society, revived and co-led the Yearbook Club, and has been active in various other organizations, including Black and Abroad, the Finance Society, the Law Society, and Voices of the Global Majority, a politics-focused club.

Through these roles, Kendall has truly found his niche at ��. “The diversity here is incredible,” he says. “You can have breakfast with someone from Sweden, lunch with someone from Nigeria, and drinks with someone from Ecuador. That kind of exposure widens your perspective in ways that go beyond the classroom.”

Kendall has long known that he wanted to study business, and his passion for sustainability, developed during high school and drove his college search. At ��, he found the perfect match in the International Business program, which allowed him to pair his major with double minors in Environmental Policy, and Environmental Economics.

His favorite courses so far have been Corporate Finance, and Financial Accounting, which he describes as “grounded in the real world.” “I like that the courses at �� are practical and applicable to my future career,” he adds.

Kendall has also gained valuable professional experience through internships, taking on the role of property management intern at JLL, a commercial real estate firm in Chicago, a role that has allowed him to join JLL’s Paris office from January to August 2025. This interest has also carried over into his role in Student Government, as he has been involved in discussions on real estate needs and property acquisitions for the University.

With a long-term goal of getting into sustainable development, Kendall is considering pursuing a master’s degree. For now, he’s focused on leveraging his time at �� to build connections and expand his expertise.

��’s location and opportunities for study trips have been highlights of Kendall’s experience. He has traveled to the Netherlands for a sustainable fashion-focused program, where he worked with �� alumni on environmental business strategies, and to southern France to study the fragrance industry. He also participated in the sustainable development practicum in India, working with NGOs on service-based projects. “I love that I have been able to study both the things I enjoy—business and sustainability—so seamlessly.”

Reflecting on his time at ��, Kendall acknowledges that the first year can be challenging. “Finding your community and where you fit in takes effort,” he says. “But if you put yourself out there, the rewards are tremendous. Take advantage of all the resources �� has to offer—it’s a small school, but the opportunities are there.”

For Kendall, the friendships and connections he’s built have been transformative. “The diversity here is a real plus,” he emphasizes. “It’s not just about academics—it’s about learning from the people around you. That’s something a lot of my friends back in the U.S. aren’t experiencing.” Now in his final year, Kendall is confident in the path he’s forged at ��.

Kendall West makes the most of his experience through involvement in many student activities

Student

Miscellaneous

Making the Most of Opportunities and Finding his Niche

The American University of Paris - Miscellaneous

Founding History

Celebrating ����������'s Past and Present

Why Founding Week?

Our Founder

Faces of ����������

The Founding of ����������

Dr. Lloyd A. DeLamater

Walter J. Brennan

Marie Louise Viborel DeLamater

Col. Karl S. Cate

Raymond D. Flowers

Data Science and the Environment

Related Links

Major Overview

Planetary and Environmental Data Science

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Environment

Counting on Beetles

Student & Faculty Collaboration

Professor Berg

Faculty Spotlight

Major Components Build Your Degree

Core Courses

Electives

Core Courses

Accommodations & Restaurants

Related Links

Accommodations

Restaurants

Keynote Speakers

Related Links

The Three Societies

Related Links

ESHHS, CHEIRON & SHP: Three Societies Meeting

Venue & Transportation

Related Links

Map of ����������

Map of the American Church

Transportation

Jane Basson’s Leadership Journey Through Aerospace

Related Links

Atelier de Théorie Politique – Paris

Kendall West

Related Links

Celebrating ��'s Past and Present

Faces of ��

The Founding of ��

Major Components

Build Your Degree

Map of ��