A group of Occidental College students participating in the Oxy at the United Nations program in New York City

Kahane UN Program

The William and Elizabeth Kahane United Nations Program at Occidental College offers an unparalleled opportunity to gain firsthand experience at the UN through internships and coursework in New York City—as well as immersive, on-campus events.

The Kahane Fund’s flagship program, Oxy at the UN, is the only program of its kind. Each fall, following a competitive selection process, a highly qualified group of Occidental students moves to New York City to conduct high-level, full-time internships at United Nations agencies, country missions to the UN (government offices), and related international non-governmental organizations.

These placements are complemented by two rigorous Occidental classes that provide the student interns with opportunities for deeper reflections on their work within the sphere of the United Nations, in development, peace and security and human rights: DWA 401 - Multilateralism and the United Nations: Challenges and Opportunities for Global Cooperation and DWA 402 - The United Nations: Humanitarian Intervention, Humanitarian Response.

Oxy at the UN

Through Oxy at the UN—the only full-time residential internship program available at the United Nations—you’ll spend a transformative fall semester in New York City, where you will undertake impactful professional internships and two rigorous Occidental seminars.

Learn more
Apply
Instagram

The Kahane UN Program is equally dedicated to bringing the United Nations to Los Angeles. Each spring, UN Week brings global leaders, experts and alumni of the program to campus, offering students a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge discussions on international diplomacy and global challenges. 

The work produced by the 2025 UN cohort may be accessed here, including both the newsletter and final publication written by the program's participants.

“One highlight of my work was researching how Artificial Intelligence can streamline work in UN spaces. I coordinated with colleagues in London and New York to discover how AI can accelerate progress for peace and diplomacy and co-pioneered the development of an AI demo within the Mission.”

Mia Thiagarajan ’24
Oxy at the UN Program participant
More from Mia
Mia Thiagarajan headshot inside the UN building in NYC

“The side events I planned and coordinated with ILGA World for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly were a highlight of my internship. I enjoyed working with Member States and partnering NGOs to convene in the UN and discuss LGBTI persons’ cultural right to participate in sports!”

Renn Stearns ’25
Oxy at the UN Program participant
Renn Stearns headshot

Program Leadership

Headshot of Prof Azza Karam
Azza Karam
Director, Kahane UN Program
karam@oxy.edu

Dr. Azza Karam worked as a practitioner of international development, human rights and peace and security, since 1990. She worked within the UN for two decades, including as Coordinator of the Arab Human Development Reports for the UN Development Program (UNDP) and founder and chair of the UN Inter...

Walter Miller
Walter Miller
Assistant Director, Kahane UN Program
wmiller@oxy.edu

Walter Miller served as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service for more than 20 years. He was last based in Athens as the State Department’s regional coordinator for refugee and migration issues across southern Europe. Previously, Walter led the Multilateral Affairs Directorate at the National...

Priscilla Falter
Priscilla Falter
Associate Director of Programs and Administration, Kahane UN Program & John Parke Young Initiative on the Global Political Economy
(323) 259-2681
falter@oxy.edu

Priscilla Falter is the Associate Director of Programs and Administration for the Kahane United Nations Program and the John Parke Young Initiative on the Global Political Economy at Occidental College. With nearly two decades of leadership in higher education and the nonprofit sector, she brings...

Contact Diplomacy & World Affairs
Johnson Hall 210

The McKinnon Center for Global Affairs

Phone: (323) 259-2769
Fax: (323) 341-4940