Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Meet Professor Paterson: Former Gov To Teach "Art Of Governing" At NYU


By

Jen Chung

Published Jul 6, 2011

Modified Jul 6, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Which is the real David Paterson?

 


By

Jen Chung

Published Jul 6, 2011

Modified Jul 6, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Earlier this year, former governor David Paterson announced he was joining the faculty of NYU. Now it turns out he'll be a visiting professor teaching a seminar called, "The Art of Governing," which might possibly be code for "Being Dysfunctional in Albany" or "Admitting Coke Usage, Affairs Days After Becoming Governor."

The Wall Street Journal reports, "The new course will meet once a week for 2½ hours and is open to freshmen students enrolled in the College of Arts and Science's honors program. Mr. Paterson will offer students a 'view into the day-to-day working knowledge of politics,' according to a course guide." Originally, Paterson wanted to teach history but was convinced to teach about the sausage factory known as Albany; he told the WSJ that usually courses on the government are "either excessively academic or they don't seem to have any direction at all... It's not always political horse-trading, or quid pro quos. It's using creativity to find a way to get people to work on the same page."

It's unclear if the course will cover "Waiting to Fire Your Staffer Who Beat Up His Girlfriend," "Lying About Free World Series Tickets," Signing 6,709 Line Item Vetoes," "That Time I Was Maybe Going To Make Caroline Kennedy Senator" or "My Aide Couldn't File His Taxes On Time."

Tagged

Albany

college

david paterson

dysfunction

governor paterson

NYU


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

NYPD investigating after 5-year-old Queens girl found dead

Police responded to a call from her mother after an assault.

By

Brittany Kriegstein

Published Oct 15, 2026 at 7:10 a.m. ET


Hochul, Blakeman offer opposing visions for jobs to stem New York exodus

A million New Yorkers have moved across state lines since 2020 due to the cost of living.

By

Jimmy Vielkind

News

Hochul, Blakeman offer opposing visions for jobs to stem New York exodus

A million New Yorkers have moved across state lines since 2020 due to the cost of living.

By

Jimmy Vielkind


Hannah-Jones, NYC schools chancellor set to speak at high-stakes integration town hall

By

Jessica Gould

Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say

By

Charles Lane

Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves

By

Arya Sundaram

and

Samantha Max


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .