Executive Director

Elisabeth (Lisa) Weir is Executive Director of the Committee on Global Thought. In this capacity, Lisa  oversees all aspects of the execution of CGT programs and acts as a senior advisor to the CGT Chair and Executive Committee. Lisa manages the office that is responsible for all CGT activities, including the MA in Global Thought program, undergraduate initiatives including the UCGT and Global Thought Scholars, and CGT communications and outreach. Lisa also interfaces with CGT’s Advisory Council and executes public offerings like the Global Thought Leaders program, events on campus and those in partnership with Columbia’s Global Centers.

Before joining CGT, Lisa spent 16 years working in various capacities for New York University’s (NYU) global offerings. As part of the founding team of NYU Shanghai, NYU’s degree-granting campus in China, Lisa served as Senior Advisor to the Vice Chancellor and as Assistant Dean, Graduate and Special Programs. Lisa also led the global and executive programs portfolio for the NYU School of Professional Studies and worked in academic affairs at NYU’s study abroad program in Shanghai. Prior to joining NYU, Lisa was an instructor at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

Lisa has a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from NYU Steinhardt, where her doctoral work focused on how global institutions innovate in response to crisis. She also earned a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from NYU Wagner, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan.

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