Ester Fuchs
{{Short description|American academic}}
{{distinguish|Esther Fuchs}}
{{Infobox academic
| name = Ester R. Fuchs
| education =
| discipline = Urban Policy
| workplaces = Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
| website =
| image = 2015 Waterfront Conference, Ester Fuchs, 1m23s (cropped).jpg
| alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|Queens College, CUNY|Brown University|University of Chicago}}
| notable_students = Karine Jean-Pierre
}}
Ester Rachel Fuchs (born August 14, 1951) is an American academic. She is Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Fuchs studied at Queens College, CUNY, Brown University, and the University of Chicago.{{cite web|title=Ester R. Fuchs|url=http://polisci.columbia.edu/people/profile/80|publisher=Columbia University|access-date=9 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710163604/http://polisci.columbia.edu/people/profile/80|archive-date=10 July 2015}}
She wrote Mayors and Money: Fiscal Policy in New York and Chicago, and describes herself as a "Pragmatic Utopian".{{cite news|last1=Robbins|first1=Nina|title=The Little Girl From Queens That Could – A Profile of Professor Ester Fuchs|url=http://www.themorningsidepost.com/2009/10/27/the-little-girl-from-queens-that-could-a-profile-of-professor-ester-fuchs/|access-date=9 July 2015|work=The Morningside Post|date=27 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710003341/http://www.themorningsidepost.com/2009/10/27/the-little-girl-from-queens-that-could-a-profile-of-professor-ester-fuchs/|archive-date=10 July 2015}}
Career
Fuchs started her career in education as a teaching assistant at Brown University's Department of Political Science in 1973, while studying for her Master's Degree. She then worked as an instructor at the University of Notre Dame in 1980. Later that same year, she joined Barnard College's Department of Political Science as a visiting assistant professor. She became the director of Barnard's Urban Studies Program in 1981, and an assistant professor the following year.
Fuchs served as Special Advisor to the Mayor for Governance and Strategic Planning under New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg from 2002 to 2005.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/01/nyregion/public-lives-an-academic-voice-at-city-hall-one-that-carries.html|title = PUBLIC LIVES; an Academic Voice at City Hall (One That Carries)|newspaper = The New York Times|date = May 2002|last1 = Richardson|first1 = Lynda}}
From 2004 to 2005, Fuchs served as Chair of the 2005 New York City Charter Revision Commission.{{cite news |last1=Horowitz |first1=Jason |title=Put Up Your Fuchs: Professor Is Mayor's Left Hemisphere |url=https://observer.com/2006/02/put-up-your-fuchs-professor-is-mayors-left-hemisphere/ |access-date=February 25, 2020 |publisher=Observer |date=February 6, 2006}} She currently serves as Director of WhosOnTheBallot.org, an online platform working to increase voter participation and education in New York City elections.{{cite web |title=WHO'S ON THE BALLOT LAUNCHES MOBILE WEB APP |url=https://sipa.columbia.edu/news/who%E2%80%99s-ballot-launches-mobile-web-app |website=Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs |access-date=3 March 2020}}
In January 2006, she left the Bloomberg Administration to rejoin Columbia University as the head of its Center for Urban Research and Policy.{{Cite web |date=6 February 2006 |title=Put Up Your Fuchs: Professor Is Mayor’s Left Hemisphere |url=https://observer.com/2006/02/put-up-your-fuchs-professor-is-mayors-left-hemisphere |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Observer |language=en-US}}
Among her notable students is Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House Press Secretary, who credited Fuchs' mentorship for inspiring her to get involved in politics.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Haitian |date=2020-10-23 |title=Karine Jean-Pierre: Biden adviser and the face of an inclusive America |url=https://haitiantimes.com/2020/10/23/karine-jean-pierre-biden-adviser-and-the-face-of-an-inclusive-america/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=The Haitian Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Looking Back and Moving Ahead: A Conversation with Karine Jean-Pierre |url=https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/news/looking-back-and-moving-ahead-conversation-karine-jean-pierre |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Columbia University}}
In 2024, Fuchs was appointed to the New York City Council's New Arrivals Strategy Team.{{Cite web |date=16 April 2024 |title=New York City Council Announces Members and Structure of New Arrivals Strategy Team to Strengthen City’s Response to Integrating Newcomers and Supporting Communities |url=https://council.nyc.gov/press/2024/04/16/2590/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=New York City Council |language=en-US}}
Awards and honors
In 2017, Fuchs was awarded the Bella Abzug Leadership Award.{{cite web |title=ESTER FUCHS IS HONORED BY BELLA ABZUG LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE |url=https://sipa.columbia.edu/news/ester-fuchs-honored-bella-abzug-leadership-institute |website=Columbia School of International and Public Affairs |access-date=3 March 2020}} She was the recipient of the NASPAA Public Service Matters Spotlight Award in 2014.{{cite periodical |title=NASPAA Honors Professor Ester Fuchs and Alumnus Todd Miner |url=https://issuu.com/columbiauniversitysipa/docs/43385_sipa_news_2015_single_pages |periodical=SIPA News |date=25 June 2015 |via=Issuu |access-date=3 March 2020}}
Antisemitism Task Force
In November 2023, Fuchs was named one of three co-chairs of Columbia University's Task Force on Antisemitism, created in response to escalating tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian campus members.{{Cite web |last=Shafik |first=Minouche |author-link=Minouche Shafik |last2=Rosenbury |first2=Laura Ann |last3=Bailey |first3=Thomas R. |date=1 November 2023 |title=Announcing Task Force on Antisemitism |url=https://president.columbia.edu/news/announcing-task-force-antisemitism |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=Columbia University}} She has been a vocal supporter of Columbia's financial and research ties to Israel{{Cite web |title=Columbia Faculty Statement |url=https://www.columbiafacultystatement.com/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Columbia Faculty Statement.com}}
References
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Category:Queens College, City University of New York alumni
Category:Brown University alumni
Category:University of Chicago alumni
Category:Columbia School of International and Public Affairs faculty
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:American women political scientists
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