Lesley de Sylva (Connolly) graduated from the MA in IR Program in 2017. She is from Durban, South Africa and completed her undergraduate studies in political science from the University of Cape Town. She also holds an MPhil in Social Justice from the University of Cape Town
Where are you currently and what do you do there?
I currently work as the Global Peacebuilding Policy Advisor at the Life&Peace Institute (LPI). LPI is an international peacebuilding organization, headquartered in Sweden, with offices in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and the DRC. LPI works to support non-violent approaches to conflict transformation through capacity building, research, and policy engagement. I joined LPI in July 2019 and am their first employee in New York, building up their Global Policy program. In this role, I work closely with global policymakers, such as the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office, to shift policy responses and actions to be more meaningful, effective and relevant to those living with the everyday realities of violent conflict.
Prior to LPI, I worked at the International Peace Institute (IPI)- a think tank based in New York- where I led the peacebuilding and sustaining peace program. Before starting at NYU, I worked at the African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) in South Africa as a senior program officer in the peacebuilding unit.
How did the IR Program prepare you for what you're doing now?
NYU gave me the confidence in myself to pursue the career path I really wanted. It made me realize what skills and experience I have and how to use these. I had amazing professors who gave me a lot of advice along the way and became part of my network. NYU showed me how to build a network and why it is so important to have this, and NYU really opened my mind to the diversity out there in terms of people, classes, talks, experiences, activities and beyond. Because of all of this, I feel like I found a really interesting career path that I have been able to carve out and purse what really drives me.
What advice do you have for current students who may be looking for a career in your field?
I always say to people wanting to work in the field of peace and security that you have to decide at some point whether you get more enjoyment and fulfillment from working at the grassroots level or the policy and research level. The grassroots, in my opinion, offers more immediate impact for your actions- you see how and what you are doing is working to change things for people directly; the policy world is much more disconnected but achieving policy change has the potential to change the lives of a lot of people all over the world. For me, I enjoy the policy work. Working to bring experiences from the ground to New York discussions to sway how big institutions like the UN undertake to build and sustain peace across the world. It can be frustrating at times but when a policy does shift, it is hugely rewarding. So my advice is to figure out which side you want to work on and try it out to see what you like. No one really knows what they want to do in the world but you quickly realize what you don’t like and can pivot from there.
And never feel scared to reach out to people and ask them questions about their work. That’s how you meet interesting people and, most importantly, that’s how you can find a mentor to help you on this journey. It is a big field and a highly competitive one now, so use all the connections you have to help you along the way.
Why did you choose the IR program at NYU?
When I studied in South Africa, I focused a lot on transitional justice and the history the country had been through. After graduating, I started working at the African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), where I focused a lot more specifically on peace and security issues more broadly than just transitional justice. I started working with the United Nations and African Union a lot more, and after three years at ACCORD I realized I really wanted to learn more about the theoretical side of peace and security and conflict resolution, which led me to NYU. The program sounded amazing with great professors and resources available. I liked the mix of theory and practical work as well as the ability to mold a program you wanted to do, access to classes at the law or business school, and the fact that so many classes were so small meant you got a lot of one on one discussions with interesting people. Plus, NYU had the added advantage of being in New York with access to so many institutions to work with was really enticing.
Which was the class you most enjoyed? And the one in which you learned the most?
I actually loved pretty much all my classes. I really enjoy Patty Chang’s class on peacekeeping. She ended up being my thesis supervisor and we still keep in touch. She has one foot in the policy work and one in teaching, so I felt brought a lot of grounded information and reality to the class.
I also really enjoyed all the research methodology classes I took. I ended up doing both qualitative and quantitative research classes which helped me really fine-tune my qualitative research skills and taught me a lot about using quantitative methods which was new to me. These are skills I still use today and I think are invaluable to research, writing and oral skills which we all use every day in our work.
What advice would you give to future students of the program?
I entered the NYU program as an older student and quite a lot of work experience, so I think my experience was quite unique. I knew I really wanted to stay in New York and work with an INGO after studying so I was working towards that. As part of this, beyond my classes, I worked to build relationships with professors, attend talks and did internships throughout my degree time. So my advice is to take advantage of the resources at hand and build up a network of people who can support and advise you through your journey and beyond graduation. You will never have as much time and access as you have in grad school- don’t spend all your time in the library; rather go to those talks and meet the amazing people at your doorstep. These are the things you will really remember and will help you learn new and diverse skills and knowledge.
What was your favorite place on campus? What did you like best about student life at NYU?
My favorite place was on the top floor of the Kimmel Building. There is a lounge area up there with a perfect view over Washington Square Park and Manhattan beyond. It was quite and never too busy, with comfy chairs. The perfect place to catch up on reading and emails. I also love the bar- Amity Hall- its chicken tenders are the best in NY!
What was the best thing about living in NYC?
Brooklyn! When I was studying at NYU, I lived in a tiny apartment in the East Village. It was convenient but the smallest place I have ever seen! When I graduated, my husband and I moved to Brooklyn and it is truly the best part of NYC. The diversity, the culture, space, the greenery! It is a peaceful oasis from the city, but filled with great restaurants and bars…that you don’t have to wait 2 hours to get a table in! Within Brooklyn, I love Prospect Park…most specifically I love running in prospect park. Back in South Africa, everyone has huge yards and rarely hangs out in the park, but in NY, very few have any outdoor space, so everyone uses the park. To me, the park equalizes us all. It brings together people of different backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and sexualities to enjoy and just hang out in the sun.
Last Updated: November 26th, 2019