The American University of Paris - Miscellaneous

Student Organization Advisor Resources

Sara Wynn — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 15:18:30 +0000

Faculty Advisors: Faculty Advisors

Faculty can advise student organizations with advising hours counting toward service, though this should be confirmed with your Department Chair or the Provost’s Office. Download the SOA Toolkit to learn more about the many hats you can wear to be an effective SOA.
Staff Advisors: Staff Advisors

Staff can advise student organizations with approval from their direct supervisor. Your role can involve fostering unique collaborations with various university departments on campus to help Student Organization Leaders (SOLs) realize their goals. Download our SOA Toolkit to learn more about how to be an effective SOA during the academic year.

Physical Activities & Self-Care at ��

Sara Wynn — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 15:05:10 +0000

Aquaboulevard - Forest Hill: Forest Hill offers �� students gym deals at a heavily discounted price. €230 per year or €150 for 6 months. Aquaboulevard Paris is one of the eight fitness clubs of Forest Hill, with vast workout possibilities equipped with a cross-fit section, tennis and squash courts, sauna facilities, and about forty different workout classes, next to an aquapark with slides and jacuzzi, and an artificial beach in summer. Find out more about Aquaboulevard – Forest Hill on their website.

Access: 4-6 Rue Louis Armand, 75015 Paris. From Invalides take Metro 8 to Balard.

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Cercles de la Forme: Signing up for our gym membership offer with Cercles de la Forme gives you access to 30+ clubs in Paris that are open 7 days per week from 8am to 10pm. Included in your membership is the opportunity to use their wide range of fitness and cardio machines, to develop a personalized workout program with a coach, and to take part in 85 different sports classes. The two student offers are €340 per year and €250 for 6 months. Sign up and pay for your membership directly online.

Sign-ups are only available during the academic year. Once you subscribe, it may take up to 10 days for the gym access form (contremarque) to be delivered to your �� email.

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Planned Giving

Sara Wynn — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:55:36 +0000

Making a planned gift to The American University of Paris (��) is the perfect way for anyone who loves ��—students, alumni, parents, trustees, staff, faculty, and friends—to create a legacy and support our community for generations to come. By including �� in your estate plans, your gift could be used to enhance scholarships and faculty support, expand our campus, support our research centers, and develop an endowment to ensure ��’s future for generations to come.

How Can I Donate?

Planned gifts come in many forms, including, donor-advised funds, stocks and bonds, real estate, IRA rollover (Qualified Charitable Donation) or bequests in your will and designations from your retirement plan or life insurance. Through one of these vehicles, you can have a significant impact on �� without affecting your current financial resources. Anyone can be a planned gift donor, regardless of means or age.

Bequests and Beneficiary Designation

A bequest or beneficiary designation are the simplest way to include �� in your estate plans. By adding language in your will or living trust, leaving a portion (commonly, a percentage or set amount) of your estate to the University, or by designating �� as a beneficiary of your retirement assets, life insurance or life estate policy.

Sample language for bequests

The following is intended to assist you and your attorney in drafting bequest language that satisfies your interests. As you consult your attorney on the selection of appropriate wording to reflect your own goals and intentions regarding The American University of Paris, be sure our organization’s correct legal name appears in all final documents as:

For endowment support

“The American University of Paris Foundation, Inc., American University of Paris Foundation, c/o Charles Leone, 477 Madison Avenue, Suite 520, New York, NY 10022, a nonprofit corporation, or its successor, Federal Tax Identification Number: 13-3276905.”

For spendable or general operating support:

“The American University of Paris, Inc., 5, boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg 75007 Paris, France, a nonprofit corporation, or its successor, Federal Tax Identification Number: 98-0013023."

Recognition

�� is grateful for the support provided by donors who have made planned gifts to our University. These individuals have demonstrated their commitment to the future of �� through gifts that have created meaningful legacies.

The Quai D’Orsay Society was founded in 2021 to recognize and celebrate the generous alumni, staff, parents, trustees, faculty (emeriti) and friends who have made a commitment to The American University of Paris.

* Indicates donors who have passed away.

Contact the Development and Alumni Relations team to let us know your plans

To learn more and explore which gift options might make sense for you, let’s start a conversation:

Courtney R. Stombock
Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations
+1 470-426-5833
plannedgivingaup.edu

Already included us in your estate plan?

If you have already made a planned gift to the University, please let us know by completing the form below and contacting us so we can ensure that we fulfill your gift exactly as you intended and invite you to join the Quai D’Orsay Society.

Download the form that can be used to notify �� that an estate gift has been arranged. Information you share will be kept confidential, and we respect any desire to remain anonymous.

Volodymyr Gain: An Intercultural Journey

Sara Wynn — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:35:10 +0000

For Volodymyr Gain, a first-year student from Lyon, the �� experience has meant the chance to blend academic goals with personal growth in an international environment.

With a French father, a Ukrainian mother, and a sister who graduated from ��, the decision to join the University felt natural, yet also unique. It offered the opportunity to study in English and immerse himself in an international community. “I really wanted to study in English to become fluent and was looking for an experience abroad,” he explains. While Paris wasn’t far from Lyon geographically, it provided a change in setting that felt new and exciting—and he was offered a scholarship. “�� fulfilled all the requirements I had for future studies—a truly international environment, flexibility in the American-style education system, and excellent academics.”

With a clear goal of studying economics, marketing and entrepreneurship, Volodymyr has begun charting a path that aligns with his passions. His high school background in the Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB), a rigorous equivalent to the International Baccalaureate, prepared him well for the challenges of college life.

In his first semester, he’s found the courses to be both fulfilling and manageable. “The workload is reasonable,” he says, “though I know it’ll ramp up next semester.” Beyond academics, he is pleased with the relationships he’s built with professors. “They’re not just good at what they do—they’re great people, too,” he says.

For Volodymyr, life at �� is so much more than sitting in a classroom. He’s intensely involved in extracurricular activities, which he sees as integral to his overall experience. As a first-year representative in the Student Government Association (SGA), he’s part of the events committee, where he helps plan and put on events that bring the community together. “SGA is such a good space to test your skills—planning, management, leadership, public speaking,” he explains. “It’s more than just an elected role; it’s a chance to learn and to grow.”

In addition to Student Government, Volodymyr is an active member of several clubs, including the Wine Society, the Boxing Club and the Eastern European Union. His love for music has also been put to use since joining the �� community—he’s a DJ for university events and plans to specialize in the business side of music.

As one of the few French students at ��, he appreciates the added value of such an international education. “It’s such a good option for French students because you meet people from all over the world, not just socially, but for building future connections.”

Living independently in Paris, however, has been an adjustment. “Balancing �� life with normal life isn’t always easy,” he admits. “Living on your own and settling into a new city right after high school can be challenging.” But he encourages others to live the experience fully. “Go out into the city, embrace French culture and language,” he encourages.

Though only in his first year, his �� journey has already provided him so many unique opportunities. He attended the First-Year Seminar study trip to the Loire Valley, which he describes as a highlight of his first semester. He also credits �� with pushing him outside his comfort zone. “�� is a community that opens so many doors,” he says. “It forces you to grow, to connect, and to see the world from a broader perspective.”

While his academic and career goals are ambitious—he plans to enter the events industry and combine his interests in music and business—Volodymyr seems to truly appreciate the time as a student, capitalizing on everything offered to him. “Every part of this experience has helped me learn something new, and I’m excited to see where it takes me next.”

Volodymyr Gain is a French student who chose �� for the international, multicultural environment

Student

Miscellaneous

Osilama Udochi: Shaping a Path Through Psychology, Entrepreneurship and Helping Others

Sara Wynn — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:26:00 +0000

For Osilama Udochi, choosing �� was as much about practicality as it was about fulfilling a dream. Originally from Nigeria, Osilama sought a school that combined her passion for psychology with the accessibility of being taught in English. “�� was the only school in Paris offering psychology at the undergraduate level in English,” she explains. With scholarships covering about 75% of her studies, �� was also the only university that could make her dream of studying in Paris a reality.

Osilama first visited Paris through ��’s summer program, where she was paired with an admissions counselor and participated in a French immersion course. That experience, combined with the University’s international community and personalized education, solidified her decision to enroll full-time.

Now in her second year at ��, Osilama has embraced the flexibility of the liberal arts education, which has allowed her to explore different disciplines. “I wanted to study something with people—maybe forensic psychology or chemistry,” she recalls. “And �� gave me the chance to mix fields.” Currently, she’s exploring the intersection of psychology and gender studies, with a minor in Entrepreneurship.

One of her favorite aspects of ��’s academic environment is its interdisciplinary approach. “The collaboration between classes is so interesting,” she says. “You’re introduced to new concepts and perspectives that help you view the world differently.”

Osilama’s involvement in campus life is as dynamic as her academic journey. As a Junior Class Representative in the Student Senate, she has worked to organize events such as the Internship Fair and the Majors Fair, aimed at helping her peers navigate their �� journeys. Furthermore, her dedication to supporting others extends to her role in the First Year Success Program. After participating as a first-year student, Osilama became an advisor, guiding new students through the challenges of transitioning to ��. She is also an active member of Bread of Life, a Bible-based club for Christian students, and uses her entrepreneurial spirit to run a small nail business—an idea sparked by an entrepreneurship project she did at ��.

For Osilama, the diversity at �� has been both a challenge and a gift. “The first year was about getting used to the fact that you’ll meet people who don’t share your beliefs,” she reflects. “It’s a constant learning experience. Everyone comes from such different cultural backgrounds.”

Despite its small size, �� feels expansive to her. “You’re always meeting new people—it’s a small university, but it feels big,” she says. She emphasizes the importance of making the most of your peers and of using all the resources available at the University, such as the ACE Center (for finding internships, for example) and the Library, which “isn’t just for academics,” she reminds students. “Take advantage of everything!”

She also is glad to have gone beyond the minimum requirements for learning French. “Life in Paris becomes so much easier when you can speak the language. You get to truly integrate into the city,” she shares, encouraging other students to do so as well.

While Osilama isn’t yet certain of her long-term plans, she sees herself staying in Europe and pursuing clinical psychology. For now, she’s focused on making the most of her time at ��. “Paris will always be here, but the resources and opportunities �� offers are unique. I’ve loved every part of this journey so far.”

Osilama Udochi came to �� for a psychology degree and found entrepreneurship and ways of helping others.

Student

Miscellaneous

Asha Bimitriev Wiratnanto: Feeling at Home at ��

Sara Wynn — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:07:53 +0000

For Asha Bimitriev Wiratnanto, who grew up in nine different countries, the diverse backgrounds and variety of cultures she found at �� felt like home—not to mention that she had lived in Paris for three years during middle school and was already familiar with the language and culture. In addition to the draw of the multicultural environment in a cosmopolitan city, �� offered majors in politics that were right up her alley and ultimately influenced her choice to attend the University

“I did a lot of research on majors. I wanted to study International and Comparative Politics, a very popular major at �� with strong professors, so this was a great opportunity for me,” she explains. Currently in her second year at ��, she appreciates how her major connects to other majors, that she has so much choice with respect to courses and that she can still change her major should she discover a new passion.

For now, she has declared her major in International and Comparative Politics along with a minor in Environmental Policy, a minor she discovered during her First Bridge classes, which helped her grasp the overlap between environmental politics and law. “I wanted to study something science-based,” she says, “but not purely science, so this was a good match for me.” After realizing that chemical engineering and other STEM-based studies were not the right path for her, she was able to find a good compromise in ��’s majors and minors.

Thanks to the liberal arts education, Asha has honed her focus in the realm of politics, all the while broadening her knowledge of other disciplines tangent to her major through the transversal paths offered by ��. Joining the “Human Rights and EU” track of her major, she says she has learned so much about the foundations of politics and is very proud of her most recent paper in that field. She has also attended two cultural programs trips, to Naples with her First Bridge class, and to Munich with her “Foundations of Modern Politics” course. She is looking forward to more travel and to more exciting courses such as “Global Political Economy” with Professor Peter Hägel.

Currently in the process of searching for an internship that might convert into a future job, she has her eye on the OECD and UNESCO but is also interested in working with environmental policy perhaps at an energy company. While she doesn’t yet know how things will shake out, and which will come first, a master’s degree or a job, she plans to stay in Europe, and looks forward to continuing to build connections through the �� community, which she describes as “cozy and homey”.

The �� experience is clearly personal for Asha, who says she appreciates the chance to get to know professors and to make genuine connections. “I went to a really big high school and I was skeptical of the small school ambiance, but small class sizes allow you to better connect with your peers and your professors. You have a chance to prove yourself,” she says, “and all of this contributes to a sense of belonging.”

Meet Asha Bimitriev Wiratnanto for whom �� is a perfect fit

Student

Miscellaneous

Study Creative Writing in Paris this Summer

Lisa Palazzolo — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:43:31 +0000

Immerse yourself in the art of writing at ��’s Summer Creative Writing Institute. Choose from workshops in Poetry, Fiction, or Creative Nonfiction, where you’ll refine your craft, develop a critical eye, and explore the nuances of storytelling. With Paris as your backdrop—from historic literary cafes to the poetic Seine—you’ll find endless inspiration. Join weekly sessions to connect with fellow writers, hear from renowned authors, and engage in lively discussions. Whether you’re honing your skills or starting fresh, this is your opportunity to grow as a writer in a city that has inspired legends.

Travel Stipends Available

About The American University of Paris

Established as a liberal arts college in 1962, The American University of Paris is an urban, independent, international university located at the meeting point of France, Europe and the world. The University provides an academic learning experience that places your personal, intellectual and professional development at its core. Our curriculum combines liberal arts inquiry, preparation for professional life and student-centered, active learning in small classrooms. Located in the center of Paris, �� is perfectly situated to help you embark upon your journey of discovery.

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Study Arts, Fashion and Media Studies in Paris this Summer

Lisa Palazzolo — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:04:14 +0000

Where better to study arts and culture than Paris? At �� Summer School, we offer courses in Fine Arts, Art History, Fashion Studies, and Media Studies during our 3-week and 6-week sessions in June and July. Expert �� faculty members blend theory and practice, offering hands-on experiences and insights into the cultural and historical contexts that shape creative expression. Whether honing your craft or deepening your understanding of the arts, �� Summer School provides the perfect environment to inspire and elevate your passions.

Take Classes that Interest You

About The American University of Paris

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Study in Paris this Summer

Lisa Palazzolo — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:14:43 +0000

Interested in exploring Paris this summer while expanding your horizons? �� Summer School courses are perfect for independent adult learners. Our program lets you audit courses in French, Fashion Studies, Art History, Media Studies, and more. Immerse yourself in dynamic 3- or 6-week classes taught by expert faculty. Located in the heart of Paris, �� provides lifelong learners the unique opportunity to broaden their knowledge while soaking up the city’s rich culture and history.

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Financing Transformation

Sara Wynn — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 15:13:39 +0000

Photo credit: Violetta Markelou

Today, Lebec harnesses this same courage and intercultural competence to drive change worldwide as a visionary entrepreneur and finance executive passionate about creating real value. Her latest venture, the advisory firm LEBEC, brings financial and philanthropic innovation to the mainstream and helps grow companies focused on climate resilience and economic equity. This work reflects Lebec’s and the LEBEC team’s creative, compassionate approach to building innovative global solutions.

Lebec’s international perspective began early, as her German mother and French father moved the family from France to South Korea for business. Attending British and American schools in South Korea and China and traveling widely, she noticed cultural contrasts among Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, as well as stark resource disparities. “I saw communities deprived of infrastructure; I remember driving through Hanoi, where there were houses with no roofs and broken water pipes.”

After high school in Beijing and Dallas and starting college at the University of Georgia, Lebec moved to Paris to attend ��—a welcome homecoming. “I felt lost from an identity perspective. Studying finance, economics, French cinema and dance in my home city helped me find myself.”

Lebec identifies as equal parts business executive and creative, and both sides flourished in Paris. “The arts anchor a sense of self and empathy,” she says. Dance—particularly hip-hop and house music—remains a vital outlet. “It fuels everything I want to do as an entrepreneur.”

Lebec’s instincts for finance, business development, problem solving and value creation surfaced quickly in her first job at a Paris documentary firm focused on sustainable development. She explored how to “help the firm unlock more capital for their efforts—not having any idea what that meant.” She also met a documentary film producer working on a film focused on the Darfur conflict, which broadened her understanding of international aid and development in Africa.

Lebec then joined the World Bank where she led communications, education, and community engagement programs with local communities in Southeast Asia, focusing on those often excluded from decision-making in development. Here, Lebec had a flash of insight: “I was 26 in an air-conditioned Jeep in my suit, thinking, why am I going to visit a community and telling them how to live their lives? I’m a privileged French woman. I don’t know if this is the transformational change I believe in.”

Driven to find better solutions, Lebec studied water crises, microfinance, and corporate sustainability at the London School of Economics. She then joined the Clinton Global Initiative and later Water.org, where she worked closely with co-founders Matt Damon and CEO Gary White, and a global leadership team, to demonstrate how microfinance and investing in women could accelerate solutions to the global water crisis. Lebec was instrumental in building the business case, mobilizing $200 million in philanthropy, and unlocking $5 billion in commercial capital for water and sanitation.

Photo 1 | The LEBEC team; Hector Mujica, Head of Economic Opportunities, Google.org; and Stacey Boyd, Founder and CEO, Olivela visiting Sentebale’s programs in Southern Africa. Co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, Sentebale is a growing social enterprise providing access to critical health services, and education and entrepreneurship opportunities to underserved youth in Southern Africa. Through deep collaboration with government and local communities, Sentebale is enhancing health, wealth creation, and climate resilience in the region. Photocredit: Brian Otieno, Storitellah

Photo 2 | Alix Lebec, Founder & CEO, LEBEC; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Co-founding Patron of Sentebale; and Dr. Sophie Chandauka, Chair of Sentebale and Chair and Co-Founder, Nandi Life Sciences. Sentebale and LEBEC hosted a “Potential is Waiting” panel and reception focused on redefining philanthropy to better support youth across Africa, Latin America, and the U.S.

Photo 3 | Water.org and WaterEquity team in Cambodia visiting programs.

Building on this progress, Lebec again joined forces with Gary White and Matt Damon to launch WaterEquity, one of the first asset managers focused on women and water, with the aim to prove that water is an investable asset class. As a founding team member and Chief Investor Relations Officer—or “Chief Rejection Officer,” as she jokingly called herself—Lebec overcame skepticism from investors, including private equity firms, financial institutions, and corporations. She and the team mobilized more than $200 million in blended capital from investors including the IKEA Foundation, Skoll Foundation, the International Development Finance Corporation, and Bank of America.

Seeing the potential of financial innovation in fueling a global entrepreneurship ecosystem, Lebec felt inspired to bring these insights to the mainstream. In 2020, she founded LEBEC, a women-owned-and-led advisory firm that supports visionary founders, funders, and investors to maximize value for underserved populations.

Photo 1| Alix Lebec, Founder & CEO of LEBEC, and Matt Damon, Actor, Screenwriter, Producer, and Co-founder of Water.org and WaterEquity at LEBEC’s “Invest in Women, Water, and Climate” panel and event in NYC during Climate Week 2024. Alongside VoLo Foundation, the Marks Family Foundation, CLEO Institute, and Water.org and WaterEquity, Alix, the LEBEC team, and 60 philanthropists and investors unpacked how innovative finance can accelerate progress towards the global water and climate crisis, and how women are a key piece of the solution. Photocredit: Sophie Sahara

Throughout her career, Lebec has thrived on “building things that matter and stepping into spaces where you have to figure it out.” She believes that entrepreneurship and finance have the power to reshape the economy. “The greatest entrepreneurs are driven by solving a problem and being creative thinkers,” she says. “The more we fuel them with the financing that helps bring those ideas to life, the better.”

Reflecting on her �� education and looking to the future, Lebec is encouraged by the next generation of entrepreneurs and excited by what current �� students might bring to the table. “�� is a critical, global ecosystem of phenomenal thinkers and doers who can be part of this change,” she says. “It represents the young minds we want to shape around this kind of thinking. We're building a world that we believe in.”

Social entrepreneur Alix Lebec ’02 is building solutions to global challenges by scaling innovative finance and philanthropy through her advisory firm, LEBEC.

Alumna

Miscellaneous

Entrepreneur Alix Lebec ’02 is Scaling Solutions

The American University of Paris - Miscellaneous

Student Organization Advisor Resources

Faculty Advisors

Staff Advisors

Physical Activities & Self-Care at ��

Competitive Team Offerings

Discounted Gym Memberships for �� Students

Planned Giving

How Can I Donate?

Bequests and Beneficiary Designation

Sample language for bequests

Recognition

Quai d’Orsay Society Members

Contact the Development and Alumni Relations team to let us know your plans

Already included us in your estate plan?

Volodymyr Gain: An Intercultural Journey

Related Links

Osilama Udochi: Shaping a Path Through Psychology, Entrepreneurship and Helping Others

Related Links

Asha Bimitriev Wiratnanto: Feeling at Home at ��

Related Links

Study Creative Writing in Paris this Summer

Travel Stipends Available

About The American University of Paris

Request Information

Useful Links

Study Arts, Fashion and Media Studies in Paris this Summer

Take Classes that Interest You

About The American University of Paris

Request Information

Useful Links

Study in Paris this Summer

Take Classes that Interests You

About The American University of Paris

Request Information

Useful Links

Financing Transformation

Related Links

The American University of Paris - Miscellaneous

Student Organization Advisor Resources

Faculty Advisors

Staff Advisors

Physical Activities & Self-Care at ����������

Competitive Team Offerings

Discounted Gym Memberships for ���������� Students

Planned Giving

How Can I Donate?

Bequests and Beneficiary Designation

Sample language for bequests

Recognition

Quai d’Orsay Society Members

Contact the Development and Alumni Relations team to let us know your plans

Already included us in your estate plan?

Volodymyr Gain: An Intercultural Journey

Related Links

Osilama Udochi: Shaping a Path Through Psychology, Entrepreneurship and Helping Others

Related Links

Asha Bimitriev Wiratnanto: Feeling at Home at ����������

Related Links

Study Creative Writing in Paris this Summer

Travel Stipends Available

About The American University of Paris

Request Information

Useful Links

Study Arts, Fashion and Media Studies in Paris this Summer

Take Classes that Interest You

About The American University of Paris

Request Information

Useful Links

Study in Paris this Summer

Take Classes that Interests You

About The American University of Paris

Request Information

Useful Links

Financing Transformation

Related Links

Physical Activities & Self-Care at ��

Discounted Gym Memberships for �� Students

Asha Bimitriev Wiratnanto: Feeling at Home at ��