Our Journey

The Yale International Alliance began as a YAA shared interest group for alumni, students, and community with a global perspective, including alumni who came to Yale as international students, alumni who lived abroad, and alumni who are interested in global affairs.

Alumni keen to strengthen the bonds among global alumni and the university led to the formation of the YIA working group in 2011. In May 2012 the YIA was launched in London with a symposium on The Global Citizen, featuring Yale World Fellow Marvin Rees memorably in conversation with Yale professor Dr. Michael Capello, and alongside a thought-provoking and enthusiastic panel of alumni whose lives and careers have a strong international focus. To celebrate the launch of the Yale Club of Ghana’s July 2013 conference on Thought Leaders in the African Renaissance, the YIA gathered at London’s October Gallery to preview the Ghana conference and present updates from the Director of the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale. In 2021, the pandemic-postponed YIA Global Leadership Forum in Rome brought international alumni together from Asia, Europe, South America, and North America, resulting in new synergies for global action in the education, climate, and global crises arenas.

Today, the Yale International Alliance is an inclusive and purposeful social impact organization and a community building catalyst that creates bonds among Yale alumni and friends who connect to energize the next generation of global citizens. YIA’s members come from over 70 countries and regularly participate in our programs including YIA Common Rooms^TM, YIA Live!^TM, YIA Film Society^TM, and a host of webinars and symposiums. As a social impact group, YIA is launching humanitarian projects together with its NGO partners such as Duet, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Rumie Initiative, and Y-Apply.  

In June 2021, YIA was incorporated as a 501(c)-(3) non-profit organization, further committing to its mission and expanding its organizational capabilities.

Mission Statement

Working towards a Better World for All.

Vision Statement

Inspire and energize the global community to address the vital issues of our time

Connect Yale alumni and friends internationally to promote Global Citizenship

Provide programming on significant world events, the environment, education, culture and other fields of interest to the worldwide community

Create initiatives that gather the collective strengths of our community in order to engage with the challenges of humanity

Bring Yale’s mission of leadership and service to the world stage

Values

Excellence – in every aspect of our work

Honesty – in all of our dealings

Collaboration – with our colleagues within our units and across the University

Innovation – by asking questions, embracing change, taking appropriate risks, and encouraging others to do the same

Fairness -by treating each other evenhandedly and respectfully

Diversity – of backgrounds and views to broaden our perspectives and enhance creativity

Professional Development – to enhance our skills and our capacity to contribute