AI Resistance Art & Symbols of Resistance: A Visual Archive
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A Graphic composed by Mentor Ehren Brav
Leveraging the power of AI image generation... Feel free to distribute - I certainly will be.
Christina Goldbaum's latest: Syria, Lebanon, and more
Recent articles, videos and podcasts from on the ground in some of the most fragile places in the world by wonderful alum and Convisero mentor Christina Goldbaum.
Infinite License: Reflections on Gaza and Historical Violence
In a powerful essay for The New York Review of Books, historian Omer Bartov explores how the memory of the Holocaust has been distorted to justify the ongoing destruction of Gaza and the silence surrounding it. His article, titled "Infinite License: The World After Gaza," draws troubling parallels between current events and past atrocities.
Bartov opens by recounting the 1904 Herero genocide in German Southwest Africa (modern-day Namibia), where German colonial forces issued an extermination order that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Herero people. He argues that such colonial frameworks of mass violence echo in the way Gaza's destruction has been rationalized and tolerated today.
The piece warns that invoking past traumas like the Holocaust to shield present-day violence erodes moral standards and undermines the very principles of human rights developed in its aftermath. Bartov stresses that this distortion is not only tragic but dangerously corrosive to international law, memory, and justice.
The essay ultimately calls readers to recognize the historical patterns repeating in Gaza — and the urgent need to resist the normalization of unchecked violence.
Read the full article here:
Infinite License: The World After Gaza — The New York Review of Books
How Universities Can Resist Political Attacks on Academic Freedom
As universities across the United States face escalating pressure from the Trump administration's aggressive campaign against higher education, a critical question emerges: How can they defend their independence?
A recent New York Times opinion piece argues that current attacks on universities — framed around issues like antisemitism and D.E.I. — are, in fact, part of a broader agenda rooted in anti-intellectualism and the consolidation of political power. The strategy has included the withdrawal of research grants and targeted financial threats aimed at compelling universities to comply individually, preventing collective resistance.
Columbia University, one of the first institutions targeted, quickly made administrative changes after losing hundreds of millions in funding. Harvard, facing $4 billion in cuts, has resisted — but other institutions have largely remained silent. The situation underscores how universities have prioritized rankings, fundraising, and prestige over their core mission: the production and dissemination of knowledge.
The article draws parallels to historical examples of academic resistance under autocratic regimes — from Poland’s underground "flying universities" to Kosovo’s parallel education systems — demonstrating that when educational institutions focus solely on their fundamental mission, they can withstand political pressure.
The call to action for American universities is clear: act like true centers of learning. This means investing in access to education, focusing less on wealth accumulation and prestige, and embracing their role as defenders of democracy and intellectual freedom.
If universities fail to resist now, the consequences could be irreversible.
Read the full article here: New York Times: This Is How Universities Can Escape Trump’s Trap, if They Dare
Sherif Mansour Joins Brave New Films
We are pleased to share that Sherif Mansour, a member of Convisero, has recently joined Brave New Films as their new Outreach and Distribution Coordinator.
Sherif Mansour is an Egyptian-American democracy and human rights advocate with extensive experience supporting press freedom and civil society initiatives. He previously served as the Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), where he led efforts to defend journalists operating in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Before that, he worked as a Senior Program Officer at Freedom House, where he was involved in training democracy activists across the Arab world.
At Brave New Films, Sherif will focus on expanding the organization’s reach through strategic outreach and distribution efforts, ensuring that critical stories promoting justice, equality, and human rights reach broader audiences.
We congratulate Sherif on this new role and look forward to following his continued work advocating for human rights and freedom of expression.
Selendy Gay Signs Amicus Brief in Support of Perkins Coie
Through the support of the Harvard AAUP and the National AAUP, Selendy Gay stood alongside 500 of the nation's leading law firms on April 4, 2025, by signing an amicus brief defending Perkins Coie against a controversial Executive Order issued on March 6, 2025.
The brief asserts that the Executive Order, and similar actions, threaten the foundations of constitutional governance and undermine the rule of law. It calls upon the judiciary to intervene swiftly and decisively to halt this misuse of executive authority.
Read the full announcement and amicus brief here:
Selendy Gay Signs Amicus Brief in Support of Perkins Coie
+972 Magazine Receives Harvard Nieman Fellows' Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism
We are proud to share that +972 Magazine has been honored by the 2025 Nieman Fellows at Harvard University with the prestigious Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism.
This recognition affirms the vital work of +972 Magazine in providing independent, human-centered reporting and analysis from the ground in Israel-Palestine, even amidst some of the most challenging and volatile times.
The Nieman Fellows commended +972 for its "vital, human-centered reporting on the war in Gaza" and its unwavering commitment to "documenting the human cost of war and occupation" with "great moral conscience and deep integrity."
Established in 1964, the Louis M. Lyons Award honors individuals and organizations demonstrating extraordinary conscience and integrity in journalism and public communication. It is named after Louis M. Lyons, former curator of the Nieman Foundation and a fierce advocate for press freedom.
In the past year, +972 Magazine and its partners at Local Call have earned wide acclaim for courageous journalism. Highlights include:
Editor-in-Chief Ghousoon Bisharat honored on Difference Day at Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Writers Meron Rapoport, Yuval Abraham, and Basel Adra receiving international accolades, including the Golden Doves for Peace and the Anna Politkovskaya–Arman Soldin Prize.
The Luchetta Foundation granting +972 Magazine a Special Award for "outstanding work."
This award underscores +972's commitment to ethical, independent journalism and amplifying the voices often marginalized in global narratives.
Learn more about +972 Magazine here: www.972mag.com
C4ADS Releases 2024 Annual Report on Global Security and Data-Driven Impact
The Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) has published its 2024 Annual Report, offering insights into its global efforts to expose and disrupt illicit networks that pose threats to international security.
The report highlights C4ADS's commitment to using open-source data, cutting-edge analytics, and cross-sector collaboration to address complex transnational issues, including environmental crime, corruption, and weapons trafficking.
This year’s report outlines strategic case studies, capacity-building initiatives, and partnerships that have strengthened accountability and transparency worldwide. It also showcases how C4ADS has supported journalists, civil society, and governments through their innovative data platforms and intelligence tools.
Explore the full report and learn how C4ADS is using data for global impact:
C4ADS 2024 Annual Report
Institute for Nonviolence Chicago: 2024 Impact Report
The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago has released its 2024 Impact Report, offering a comprehensive look at its efforts to foster peace, reduce violence, and build community resilience across Chicago.
This year’s report highlights significant strides in outreach, case management, and community engagement. From supporting young people in crisis to mediating gang conflicts and providing trauma-informed care, the Institute’s work continues to be a critical force for healing in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by gun violence.
The report also details collaboration with local partners, success stories from frontline outreach workers, and strategic growth in data-driven programming—all rooted in the principles of Kingian Nonviolence.
Read the full report and explore how nonviolence is making a difference:
2024 Impact Report – Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
No Woman’s Land: Behind the Scenes of a Groundbreaking War Documentary
Kiana and Mélissa visiting a women's center in Badakhshan
Between January and June 2024, photojournalist Kiana Hayeri and researcher Mélissa Cornet traveled across seven provinces in Afghanistan, documenting the lives of over 100 women and girls living under Taliban rule. Their project, No Woman’s Land, offers a rare and intimate view into everyday acts of resistance in a country where women’s freedoms have been systematically stripped away.
Using light, shadow, and collaboration, they created dignified, anonymous portraits, accompanied by deeply researched interviews. The project captures small moments of joy and humanity—dancing, art, celebration—as powerful forms of protest.
Security, consent, and ethics were central to their process, as they navigated high-risk environments without a security team. Their work highlights the urgency of listening to women on the ground—and preserving their stories.
No Woman’s Land has won multiple international awards, including the 2025 World Press Photo Award and Pictures of the Year International, and was made possible through the 14th Carmignac Photojournalism Award. A Kickstarter campaign is now live to support its upcoming photo book.
Watch the behind-the-scenes feature:
No Woman’s Land – Dispatches, The VII Foundation
Feromics: Revolutionizing Iron Biology for Human Health
Feromics, a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, is pioneering a new frontier in health innovation through its focus on iron biology. The company is developing a first-in-class platform to detect, monitor, and modulate iron at the molecular level—an area of research with far-reaching implications for chronic diseases.
At the helm of this transformative work is Dr. Shai Schubert, CEO and Co-Founder of Feromics—and a member of Convisero. Dr. Schubert is driven by a mission to bring cutting-edge treatments to underserved patients. Before launching Feromics, he co-founded and led technology development in several biotechnology and medical device companies.
Dr. Schubert holds a Ph.D. in biotechnology from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and completed his postdoctoral training at the prestigious Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST), Biomedical Engineering Center. His multidisciplinary expertise and entrepreneurial leadership are central to Feromics' vision of redefining iron biology for clinical innovation.
Iron, a vital mineral in the human body, plays a key role in oxygen transport, energy production, and immune function. However, dysregulated iron levels have been linked to a wide range of health conditions, including inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer.
Feromics' platform leverages cutting-edge tools in molecular diagnostics, bioinformatics, and protein engineering to provide more precise, non-invasive insights into iron metabolism. Their mission is to harness this knowledge to improve clinical outcomes, from early detection and prevention to personalized treatments.
Learn more about their work:
Feromics – Company Website
Congo Basin Carbon Research: A Critical Front in the Climate Crisis
The Congo Basin, often overshadowed by the Amazon in global climate discourse, is emerging as one of the most vital ecosystems in the fight against climate change. A new report from National Geographic highlights how this vast tropical forest stores massive amounts of carbon and plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate.
Unlike other major carbon sinks, the Congo Basin has received limited international funding and attention. Yet its peatlands alone may store the equivalent of 20 years’ worth of fossil fuel emissions from the United States. With increased deforestation, logging, and land conversion threatening these reserves, scientists and local researchers are racing to understand how much carbon is stored—and how much could be released.
This research is also deeply tied to justice and equity. Many of the researchers involved are from the Congo itself, working to assert regional ownership over data and climate strategies. Their work not only protects the planet but also strengthens scientific sovereignty in a region long overlooked in global environmental efforts.
The photographs accompanying this report were taken by Nichole Sobecki, a member of Convisero and award-winning photographer based in Nairobi. Her work chronicles how climate change is reshaping our planet and humanity’s connection to it. The report also features the investigative journalism of Mélanie Gouby, a London-based filmmaker and journalist who has spent more than a decade covering conflict, inequality, and environmental issues across Africa.
This story appears in the April 2025 issue of National Geographic Magazine. The nonprofit National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world, funded the work of Explorers Mélanie Gouby and Nichole Sobecki.
To learn more about the Congo Basin’s critical role and the scientists leading the charge, read the full article here:
National Geographic – Congo Basin Carbon Research
The Stringer: Uncovering Truths, Rewriting History
Premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, The Stringer is a groundbreaking documentary directed by Bao Nguyen and produced by The VII Foundation in partnership with XRM Media. With over 250 reviews and media stories, it has become one of the most discussed films in Sundance history.
The film follows a whistleblower’s revelation that launches a two-year journalistic investigation led by Gary Knight and a team of award-winning reporters, uncovering a decades-old scandal involving the authorship of one of the Vietnam War’s most iconic images — the “napalm girl” photograph. At its core, The Stringer is an urgent and reflective critique of the systemic exploitation of freelance and local journalists, especially in conflict zones.
The investigation challenges long-held narratives, forcing the journalism industry to reckon with questions of authorship, journalistic ethics, and racial injustice. As Bao Nguyen explains in his director’s statement, the film underscores the enduring presence of marginalized voices, asserting that they were never silent — only ignored.
“The truth cannot be twisted, or torn apart,” says a legendary Vietnamese journalist interviewed in the film. “Because if so, it’s no longer the truth and we will have lost our moral compass.”
The Stringer is a story that many in the profession did not want told. But it is a vital reckoning with history — one that exemplifies the role of journalism not just as the first draft of history, but also as its necessary second draft.
With reporting by Fiona Turner, Terri Lichstein, Lê Vân, and Gary Knight, and cinematography by Andrew Yuyi Truong, Bao Nguyen, and Ray Lavers, the film stands as both an investigative achievement and a cinematic milestone.
Read more and explore the full project here:
The Stringer – The VII Foundation
More on The Stringer in the press:
Authoritarianism’s Leading Edge: The Case of Rumeysa Ozturk
Concerns over civil liberties and due process have grown following the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish graduate student at Tufts University, by federal agents earlier this week. The incident, captured on security footage, shows plainclothes agents—many with their faces obscured—detaining Ozturk without any prior public indication of criminal behavior.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), someone matching Ozturk’s name is now listed in a detention facility in Louisiana. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Ozturk’s student visa had been revoked, alongside 300 others. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson has claimed that Ozturk engaged in “activities in support of Hamas,” yet no formal charges have been filed and no evidence has been made public.
The only publicly known detail about Ozturk’s activities is her authorship of an opinion piece in the Tufts student newspaper criticizing the university’s support for Israel. This has raised alarms about the potential criminalization of dissent and free expression.
As journalist Meher Ahmad notes, this case may signal a shift in ICE’s operations — targeting noncitizens for deportation without accusations or convictions of any crime, effectively bypassing the legal system. While the federal government claims legal authority for these actions under certain statutes, critics argue that this amounts to circumventing the courts and undermining constitutional protections.
An investigation published by Mother Jones raises further doubts about the legitimacy and accountability of these detentions, suggesting that the U.S. government may be using immigration enforcement as an extrajudicial tool of suppression.
The implications of this case are serious, particularly for international students and immigrant communities. As debates over speech, dissent, and national security intensify, the need to uphold due process and civil rights remains more urgent than ever.
Read more from:
1. Federal Government Detains International Student at Tufts
2. A Video From Tufts Captures the Fear and Aggression in Trump’s Crackdown
3. Over 2,000 protest in wake of student detainment
Educating for Peace: A Teachers’ Conference for Nuclear Disarmament Education
Calling all educators committed to peacebuilding and civic responsibility—this in-person weekend conference is designed for middle and high school teachers passionate about fostering critical thinking and empowering youth to create a better world.
Dates: May 9–11, 2025
Location: Cambridge, MA
Format: Free and in-person only (application required)
Organized by the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, the Soka Institute for Global Solutions, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and EdEthics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the conference brings together educators to build capacity in nuclear disarmament education.
Participants will:
Explore practical strategies for integrating nuclear disarmament into the classroom
Strengthen skills for civic engagement and critical thinking
Connect with like-minded teachers in an inspiring and collaborative setting
Who should apply? Middle and high school educators ready to lead thoughtful dialogue and global learning in their communities.
Spots are limited. Apply now to be part of this transformative learning experience.
Power Ukraine: Supporting Civilian Resilience Amid War
Elle Ota - a member of Convisero
As the full-scale war in Ukraine approaches its third anniversary, the Putin regime continues its daily attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, targeting electric grids, power plants, and energy facilities. These assaults have left more than one million Ukrainians without access to electricity, heat, or the Internet, severely impacting their ability to stay warm, communicate, and carry on with daily life.
In response, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) launched the Power Ukraine campaign in December to provide portable generators and charging stations to communities most affected by the conflict, particularly in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions. The campaign focused on reaching internally displaced civilians and frontline areas where needs are most urgent.
Over the course of the campaign, HRF raised over $59,000, which was used to deliver 60 portable generators to households and five charging stations to hospitals. These efforts enabled communities to regain access to power for heating and communication, and supported the continuity of medical care in severely affected regions.
The initiative highlights the essential role of energy access in conflict zones and underscores the importance of targeted, community-based humanitarian efforts. Among those leading this work on the ground was Elle Ota, HRF Program Officer and member of Convisero, who personally traveled with a team to remote villages to deliver the generators and charging stations. Her direct involvement helped ensure that aid reached those most in need and embodied the spirit of frontline solidarity.
Learn more and donate to help HRF Power Ukraine at:
Power Ukraine – Human Rights Foundation
Watch a message of gratitude from HRF’s Power Ukraine campaign:
YouTube – Power Ukraine Impact
Yuval Bar-Zemer
Yuval Bar-Zemer is a Los Angeles–based real estate developer, community leader, and political activist who has spent nearly four decades driving transformative change. After moving to Los Angeles 39 years ago and beginning his professional life as an electrician and builder, Yuval dedicated the first three decades of his career to real estate development—leading projects that reshaped neighborhoods and reimagined urban potential.
In the past fifteen years, Yuval has transitioned much of his energy and resources into philanthropic and civic initiatives. His work spans a wide spectrum of local and international causes, including community organizing, land use policy, homelessness, river ecological restoration, cycling infrastructure, contemporary art, archaeology, climate change, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, misinformation and disinformation, and the future of Israel as a democratic state.
Frustrated by the slow pace of change in the nonprofit sector, Yuval has recently shifted focus toward political action. He is currently a leading supporter of Yair Golan, the new leader of the Democrats in Israel. In the United States, he devotes much of his time to Gigafact, an innovative project aimed at combatting the disinformation epidemic on social media.
Yuval Bar-Zemer continues to combine decades of management experience with an unwavering commitment to social justice, civic integrity, and democratic values.
Kassim Bashir
Kassim Bashir, 31, is an Israeli Arab entrepreneur and a proud alumnus of the 50:50 Startups program. He is currently pursuing an MBA at Northeastern University and brings a strong background in software development and data science. Kassim is deeply passionate about building communities and creating spaces that bring people together through innovation.
Originally from Sakhnin, an Arab village in northern Israel, Kassim developed a deep appreciation for the power of connection and inclusivity. During his time with 50:50 Startups, he co-founded a venture called Jeeran, which means "neighbors" in Arabic. The mission of Jeeran is to help individuals who relocate to a new city build meaningful friendships and social bonds, easing their transition and enriching their lives.
Iky Salinas
The enduring conflict that has persisted for over almost a century between Israelis and Palestinians casts a profound shadow over the daily lives of all those who call that land home. For the past year and a half, we have borne witness to one of the most devastating escalations of violence in the entire history of the conflict, exacting a heavy toll on civilians from both sides. Possible solutions seem elusive in this protracted conflict, making it imperative to approach it from an academic standpoint, with the objective of providing activists and agents of peace with new insights to combat violence and advance the cause towards a peaceful reality.
I am Itzhak (Iky) Salinas, a Mexican-American-Israeli activist and analyst dedicated to the pursuit of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. I have a long history of professional and academic involvement in the field, I completed a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Haifa and a master's degree in nonprofit management from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where I focused extensively on organizations engaged in peacebuilding. This academic training significantly enriched my path as an activist and peace practitioner, equipping me with valuable knowledge of organizational management, understanding in strategic planning, political acumen, and a deep grasp of the Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding field.
In the professional field, I recently completed a three-year tenure at Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (MEET), an organization committed to bringing Israeli and Palestinian youth together through computer science education. I have further experience in similar nonprofit organizations and have also acquired experience in political campaigning. Due to my familiarity with the field, I have come to realize that, although most peace-seeking organizations work with a lot of commitment, they generally lack sufficient evidence-based data and models to guide their efforts. There is a critical need for research that can have a significant impact on the necessary scale to effect real change.
I intend to conduct studies that will, in various ways, address one overall question: What impact do the Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding CSOs have on the conflict? The research can delve into such questions as how can impact be measured effectively within the Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding field? And how can we use impact measurement and other available tools to empower the field and improve its performance?
My goal is to utilize the analysis of the effectiveness of NGO peace interventions to help steer the field towards more impactful peacebuilding. This academic pursuit will involve a multidisciplinary study deriving concepts and research from fields such as NGO management, organizational behavior studies, conflict management and resolution, and international relations. Many tools to empower the peacebuilding field already exist, as researched by such scholars as Johan Galtung, Jody Hoffer Gittel, Michelle Gawerc, Cedric de Coning, Pamina Firchrow, Peter Frumkin, John Paul Lederach and more— some of whom are affiliated with UMB, such as Karen Ross and Jeffrey Pugh.
My approach encompasses three levels: the strategic, the impact, and the organizational. On the strategic level, the intent is to align the field towards a joint mission and to scale up impact on an aggregate level rather than through the individual organizations. At the impact level the emphasis lies on improving impact towards beneficiaries, communities, and partnerships through the strategic implementation of scaling-up strategies. The organizational level addresses internal challenges faced by organizations and the field, including organizational capacity, burnout, low compensation, underrepresentation of key stakeholders and more.
The aforementioned researchers have provided an array of tools that can be built upon and synthesized to create a holistic strategy to measure and improve impact in the field. On the strategic level, impact measurement could build off research from Firchrow and MacGinty, who through their Everyday Peace Indicators project have established guidelines towards creating real indicators that measure change while bridging between bottom-up and top-down indicators. This approach would give more agency over the peacebuilding process to those living in the region as opposed to international actors. Furthermore, the topic of partnerships has seen research conducted by Strichman, whose perspective on Adaptive Capacity highlights the importance of becoming learning organizations. Hoffer Gittel provides a similar understanding through the concept of Relational Coordination as it conceptualizes a framework for building partnerships within the field. One last aspect of research that is worth mentioning here is from De Coning, who emphasizes flexible, evolving impact measurement through iteration in evaluating the impact, allowing for this strategy to adapt to the changes in the field.
Partnerships can be seen from within and without, beyond the established process to create a centralized field and framework within it, it is important to establish partnerships with the stakeholders of the field as well. These stakeholders include the beneficiaries themselves and their communities, for which a model of establishing key characteristics in the selection process is provided by Pugh’s Catalytic Network Model. Beyond the beneficiaries, the practitioners should also be considered. Gawerc’s suggestions for how to sustain long term commitment by building an affective attachment to the field should be further investigated to turn practitioners into committed professionals.
My personal, academic and professional experience positions me as someone who can potentially contribute to the field of peacebuilding. My multinational background, as one who speaks 3 different languages and has adapted to 3 different cultures, has prepared me for cross cultural communication. My activism has enhanced my ability to undertake unique projects to further the peacebuilding community. Most recently this commitment materialized in my work as a political campaign manager to get the first Palestinian elected to the Jerusalem City Council. (Owing to the Gaza War, the initiative was postponed)
As daunting as the current escalation may appear, it signals a potential turning point for the peacebuilding field. I am steadfast in my belief that the research I aspire to undertake will serve as a cornerstone for a rejuvenated approach, paving the way for a tangible reality of peace. Echoing JFK's sentiment delivered at the UN in 1963, 'Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.' Despite the enduring challenges, I remain resolute in my commitment. I see this moment as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing pursuit of peace in Israel and Palestine. I am eager to embark on this journey and be an active part of shaping a future where peace thrives and transforms lives.
In addition to my current work, I contributed to MEET’s USAID-funded Northern Innovators program (2020–2023). I have attached the program’s second-year Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan, which outlines key measurement tools and strategy. Of particular interest are the Results Framework and the Performance Monitoring Plan.
For insight into how USAID structures its measurement indicators, see Section 3.2 of the plan. The first three metrics in the performance indicators table were mandated by USAID, while the remaining were submitted by MEET as additional, self-defined indicators.
View the MEL plan:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gGyCg8Bn7F_0UpS-8HkOuFPns-BspSdp/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111033924517633597069&rtpof=true&sd=true
Jack Blum to receive Honorary Degree from Bard
Bard College has announced that Jack Arthur Blum ’62, a Bard trustee associate and lifelong public servant, will receive an Honorary Degree at its 2025 Commencement ceremony.
Blum earned a JD from Columbia Law School and began his distinguished career with the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, where he led investigations into mortgage fraud and redlining. His groundbreaking work exposed discriminatory practices, including a redline map drawn by Boston bankers showing where Black Americans could access mortgages.
In 1972, he moved to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), contributing to the investigation of CIA involvement in Chile and foreign bribery by U.S. corporations. His efforts were instrumental in the passage of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and in the prosecution of Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei.
Blum returned to the SFRC in 1986 as special counsel, where he worked alongside Senator John Kerry to expose drug trafficking and money laundering networks. His investigations revealed the criminal activities of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International and the drug-related operations of General Manuel Noriega.
Beyond the Senate, Blum chaired a United Nations Expert Group on asset recovery and has served as an expert witness in major international fraud and tax evasion cases. Since 2006, he has collaborated with the government of Norway and the UN to help alleviate global poverty.
This honorary degree recognizes Blum’s tireless dedication to justice, transparency, and public accountability across a lifetime of legal, investigative, and humanitarian service.
To view all the Honorary Degree Recipients, visit:
Bard College Honorary Degrees 2025
