Latest news with #RickFriedman
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
University Degrees Leading To Highest
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new report has examined the median annual earnings of Americans by their degrees, highlighting which courses may lead to the most well-paid employment after graduation. On Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau published its findings on the demographic, social and geographic outcomes of Americans with bachelor's degrees, as part of its annual American Community Survey. The report also revealed gender disparities across various professions. Graduates gather as they attend commencement ceremony at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. Graduates gather as they attend commencement ceremony at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. Rick Friedman/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters Understanding which degrees typically help graduates secure high-earning jobs is one of the key factors influencing this decision among those hoping to attend college or university, especially given the rising costs of higher education in the U.S. The data from the census bureau also points to financial gaps in the ever-changing labor market, with high-demand fields such as engineering commanding premium pay, while degrees in others yield more modest returns. Disparities in pay—and the resulting attractiveness of different degrees—can themselves influence shifts in the labor market, contributing to workforce shortages and surpluses. What To Know Among U.S. graduates, those with degrees in science and engineering fields are set to earn the most in their future employment, with electrical engineering currently the most well-compensated of all degrees with median annual earnings of $121,600. Lowest on the list were those with degrees in the family and consumer sciences, earning an estimated $52,850 annually. The Census Bureau report also highlights disparities in median pay between men and women. Among all degree recipients, men were estimated to earn $89,300 annually, compared to $63,230 for women. This gap, explained in other studies by a mix of societal bias, career choices and work patterns, exists across all degrees, but is highest amongst those in the category of "other science and engineering degrees," where women's median pay equates to only 70.8 percent of men's. Which Degrees Lead to Highest Salaries? The census bureau tracked the median annual earnings of Americans aged 25 to 64 by their respective bachelor's degrees, all compared to a benchmark median of $74,150, finding that these were the ones which went on to yield the highest returns for graduates. The findings showed the following average earnings per year: Science and Engineering Degrees Electrical Engineering: $121,600 Computer Science: $108,500 Mechanical Engineering: $106,200 Economics: $101,400 Engineering: $100,600 Civil Engineering: $99,660 Chemistry: $94,680 Mathematics: $86,560 Political Science: $86,380 Biology: $81,550 Nursing: $79,600 Other Science and Engineering Degrees: $77,910 Sociology: $63,660 Psychology: $62,270 Business Degrees Finance: $99,900 Accounting: $84,880 General Business: $80,120 Other Business Degrees: $77,160 Marketing: $75,930 Business Management and Administration: $75,600 Education Degrees Other Education Degrees: $58,120 General Education: $58,000 Elementary Education: $54,900 Arts, Humanities and Other Degrees History: $73,560 Communications: $67,840 English Language and Literature: $65,060 Criminal Justice and Fire Protection: $64,690 Other Degrees: $62,100 Physical Fitness, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure: $61,580 Liberal Arts: $61,380 Commercial Art and Graphic Design: $59,770 Family and Consumer Sciences: $59,770 Social Work: $55,060 Fine Arts: $53,450 Family and Consumer Sciences: $52,850 What People Are Saying Richard Fry and Carolina Aragão of Pew Research, in their study of gender pay gaps in the U.S. workplace, in March wrote: "Even though women have increased their presence in higher-paying jobs traditionally dominated by men, such as professional and managerial positions, women as a whole continue to be overrepresented in lower-paying occupations relative to their share of the workforce. This may contribute to gender differences in pay." "Other factors that are difficult to measure, including gender discrimination, may also contribute to the ongoing wage discrepancy," they add.
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
A Jewelry Fair Joins the Hamptons' Summer Calendar
Every summer the Hamptons on New York's Long Island is the site of an equestrian show, a luxury car event and a popular art fair. Now a jewelry fair is joining the seasonal calendar. From July 24-27, the inaugural Hamptons Jewelry Show is scheduled to host more than 80 exhibitors from around the globe in a pavilion at the Southampton Fairgrounds that could cover almost 40 standard tennis courts. The event has ambitions to be 'one of the finest and most respected, high-caliber, direct-to-the-public shows,' said Rick Friedman, the event's executive director, in a video interview. (He also founded the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, scheduled next week at the same location.) Independent jewelers and designers will display their creations and dealers will be offering pieces by the likes of Cartier, Boucheron, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels, said Hilary Joy Diaz, the show's director and a veteran of more than 40 years in the jewelry industry. She estimated that prices will range from $200 to more than $3.5 million. Tickets, which may be purchased through the event's website, are $125 for the July 24 preview and $40 for a day pass. Ms. Diaz said that plans to increase the excitement included a four-day auction of some bespoke furniture created for the event and showings of various vehicles from Lucid Motors, an American electric luxury car company. As for the jewelers, Ms. Diaz said: 'I wanted to curate this event in the way that Rick curates the art show,' she said, referring to Mr. Friedman. 'You have to have the best of the best.' Mr. Friedman said attendees would be able to meet designers and makers such as Scarselli Diamonds, a New York jeweler known for its colored stones, and Tamsen Ann Ziff of New York, whose Tamsen Z brand prominently features opals. Another maker is Walter Hollander, the owner, designer and second-generation jeweler at Cornelis Hollander in Scottsdale, Ariz. Mr. Hollander said he had never been to the Hamptons ('I'm looking forward to going to the beach,' he said), and that participating in the Long Island show was a way to help grow his business. Among the creations Mr. Hollander intends to display is a diamond pavé ring set with a five-carat sapphire in an unusual trapezoid shape 'It's a lot of bling with this very unique-cut stone that's set in a kind of maze, held up with lots of crossovers,' he said. He also will showcase rings with a folded ribbonlike motif that he said had been particularly popular with customers: 'We have a clientele that want something unique and handmade — that no one else has seen. They don't really want a mass-produced item.' Mr. Friedman said that he expected the kind of attendees who patronize the art fair would attend the new event. 'We have to play at a very high standard here — and transfer that sense of excellence to the jewelry world,' he said.
Forbes
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Heading To The Hamptons? Don't Miss The Hamptons Jewellery Show
Hamptons summer weekenders take note: The inaugural Hamptons Jewelry Show will be at Southampton Fairgrounds July 24-27 with an international curation of more than 80 estate jewelry dealers and contemporary designers to rival some of the world's biggest gem and jewelry shows. From the team behind Hamptons Fine Art Fair, the show is expected to attract a similarly well-heeled clientele ready to invest in wearable art, with pieces available from between $200 and $3.5 million. The show is scheduled at the peak of the Hamptons summer season, when well-off, taste-conscious residents flock to second homes for vacations and weekend parties. 'Our 4,000 hard-to-reach, affluent, jewelry-loving guests are the prime target audience for many luxury brands,' says Rick Friedman, Executive Director and Founder of the show, explaining how the area's only international direct-to-public fine jewelry fair has already attracted big-name sponsors like Mahnaz Collection, Lucid automobiles and Bulldog Security. Organizers are expecting many of the 20,000 annual Hamptons Fine Art Fair guests to attend, who they describe as 'curious, relaxed acquisition-oriented decision-makers', from both the local area and nearby New York City. Friedman and his team also produce Hamptons Fine Art Fair at the same venue, known for its relaxed visitor experience including upscale outdoor dining, wine bars and climate controled tents. 'The construction of 70,000 square-foot pavilion complex cost $1.5 million for the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, then we tear it down straight afterwards' says Friedman, 'so we thought it would be prudent to keep it up for a second show. A natural extension of showing artist paintings, is wearable art. These designers and goldsmiths are artisans, and sculptors working in a different medium: gold, diamonds and gems.' The show is curated by Hamptons local Hilary Joy Diaz, who cites the 'understanding of our sensibilities, styles and trends' which influenced a selection designed 'to present a boho chic, casual elegance, and fairly priced practical jewelry solutions for the elegant Hamptons lifestyle.' Diaz has been a jewelry designer for over 40 years and has owned a jewelry factory in New York City for the past 20, experience that she brought to bear for the show. 'I understand the level of workmanship, materials, intricacy, and complexity in making and designing bespoke jewelry,' she explains, adding that she was careful not to include brands or jewels that are too similar, 'so that everyone of our 80 exhibitors is uniquely special, creating a memorable and exhilarating shopping experience for our many guests, who proudly leave with wearable art.' Highlights for the 2025 edition, curated around the theme of 'everyday classics' include vintage jewels from the like of Hermes and David Webb at The Back Vault, and contemporary designer jewelry by Tamsin Z, Anna Lin, Lydia Courteille, Ox-Ny and Cornelis Hollander. For visitors, it represents a chance to connect directly with goldsmiths, designers and dealers and maybe even establish long-term relationships, according to Friedman, who is already planning an expanded Hamptons Jewelry Show 2026, offering 'even more must-have treasure for every budget. Basically, I want to see a lot of smiling faces,' he finishes. We'll see you there.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What Trump's Harvard Visa Restriction Means for International Students
University banners hang outside Widener Library during Harvard's commencement, in Cambridge, Mass., May 29, 2025. Credit - Rick Friedman—AFP/Getty Images President Donald Trump has escalated his standoff with Harvard University, seeking another path to prevent international students from attending the school after a judge blocked an attempt to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students. 'I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard's conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,' Trump said Wednesday, the same day he issued a 'travel ban' restricting nationals from 19 countries on entering the U.S., in a proclamation that seeks to limit foreigners' ability to travel to the U.S. to study at Harvard. 'This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights,' the university said in a statement. 'Harvard will continue to take steps to protect the rights of our international students and scholars, members of our community who are vital to the University's academic mission and community—and whose presence here benefits our country immeasurably,' it said in a previous statement. The university has not responded to queries from TIME about how exactly it plans to respond to the proclamation. The proclamation comes days after the State Department reportedly instructed embassies and consulates to increase vetting of visa applicants looking to travel to Harvard for any purpose—with the word 'any' underlined and bolded. Last week, the State Department paused the scheduling of new student visa interviews at embassies across the world to look into intensifying the scrutiny of applicants' social media accounts, citing concerns about antisemitism and terrorism. Harvard has also faced the threat of federal funding cuts and the rescinding of its tax-exempt status. The Cambridge, Mass.-based university is one of several elite higher education institutions in the U.S. that have come under attack by the Trump Administration. Here's what to know. The proclamation suspends the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard, effective immediately. After 90 days, it will be reassessed for extension; otherwise, it will expire in six months. The proclamation applies to those who attempt to enter the country to attend Harvard through the Student Exchange Visa Program. It does not apply to those attending other universities through SEVP. It also directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to 'consider' on a case-by-case basis whether foreign nationals who attend Harvard and are already in the U.S. under F, M, or J visas should have their visas revoked. The order allows for exceptions to be made for those 'whose entry would be in the national interest,' as determined by Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, or their respective designees. Read More: Harvard's International Students Left in Limbo Amid Legal Battle With Trump Administration Harvard currently has nearly 7,000 international students, representing more than a quarter of its enrollees. Several universities across the globe have already offered to accept impacted students. If international students are forced to transfer, Harvard would suffer financially, as many international students pay full tuition and other associated costs of attendance, which can be as high as about $87,000 per year for undergraduates to $102,000 per year for some graduate students. The latest proclamation comes as Trump's second-term Administration has already sought to cancel thousands of international students' visas across the country, before abruptly reversing course. Recently, the Administration has also targeted students from China, who account for nearly a quarter of all international students in the U.S., citing national security concerns. According to the latest proclamation, the government has concluded 'Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs.' The proclamation points to concerns about crime; insufficient cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security; foreign entanglements, including with China; and alleged civil rights violations. 'Crime rates at Harvard University—including violent crime rates—have drastically risen in recent years,' the proclamation asserts, adding that the university 'has failed to discipline at least some categories of conduct violations on campus.' It also alleges that Harvard 'has refused the recent requests of the DHS for information about foreign students' 'known illegal activity,' 'known dangerous and violent activity,' 'known threats to other students or university personnel,' 'known deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel,' and whether those activities 'occurred on campus,' and other related data.' It concluded: 'Harvard's actions show that it either is not fully reporting its disciplinary records for foreign students or is not seriously policing its foreign students.' The proclamation also cites student newspaper the Harvard Crimson, which reported earlier this year that the university has received over $150 million in funding from foreign governments, more than any of its Ivy League peers. A university spokesperson told the Crimson that donations are used to fund financial aid as well as educational and operational expenses. Trump's latest proclamation also cited a May letter by the Republican-led House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party that alleged 'Harvard repeatedly hosted and trained members of a CCP paramilitary organization.' Lastly, the proclamation claimed that Harvard 'continues to flout the civil rights of its students and faculty.' It referred to the 2023 Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, in which admissions policies that consider race as a factor were ruled unconstitutional, to suggest that the university engages in 'blatant' 'discrimination against disfavored races.' Harvard, the proclamation alleged, continues to 'deny hardworking Americans equal opportunities,' while it 'admits students from non-egalitarian nations, including nations that seek the destruction of the United States and its allies, or the extermination of entire peoples.' Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Cracks Down on Chinese International Students: What to Know
People hold up signs during the Harvard Students for Freedom rally in support of international students at the Harvard University campus in Boston, Mass., on May 27, 2025. Credit - Rick Friedman—AFP/Getty Images 'Economists don't like tariffs not only because of the tariff itself but because of the uncertainty it creates,' Fangzhou Jiang, a Chinese student at Harvard Kennedy School and co-founder of higher education consulting firm Crimson Education, tells TIME. 'It's the same situation.' The uncertainty Jiang is dealing with is his education: while his student visa has so far not been affected, the changing situation around Harvard's enrollment authorization and now new restrictions on Chinese students have made it difficult to navigate decisions around things like housing for the next academic year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday the U.S. would start 'aggressively' revoking Chinese student visas and 'enhance scrutiny' of applications from mainland China and Hong Kong. Rubio gave sparse details on what exactly the criteria would be but said it would include 'those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' China on Thursday condemned the decision, calling it 'discriminatory.' 'The U.S. decision … seriously hurts the lawful rights and interests of international students from China, and disrupts people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. China firmly opposes it and has protested to the U.S. over the decision,' said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. 'This politically motivated and discriminatory move exposes the U.S. hypocrisy over freedom and openness. It will further damage the image and reputation of the U.S. itself.' The U.S. move comes at a time when the Trump Administration has imposed restrictions on the sales of chip design software and some jet engine parts to China, and soon after it warned that the sale of Huawei semiconductors 'anywhere in the world' would violate U.S. export controls—prompting China to threaten legal action. It's also come amid the Administration's war on U.S. colleges, which has included slashing federal funding for a number of universities and an attempt to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students over the school's alleged noncompliance with a list of demands. The decision was celebrated by some. Ashley Moody, a Republican Senator from Florida, posted on X, 'the U.S. is no longer in the business of importing espionage.' Moody introduced a bill in March to ban all Chinese students from the U.S. Others, however, condemned the move. 'The wholesale revocation of student visas based on national origin—and without an investigation—is xenophobic and wrong,' the Democratic-led Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus posted on X. 'Turning these students away—many of whom simply wish to learn in a free and democratic society—is not just shortsighted but a betrayal of our values.' This policy 'doesn't come from nowhere,' says David Weeks, co-founder and chief operating officer of Sunrise International, a consulting firm that advises overseas universities on recruiting Chinese students. 'You have adverse policies tracing back all the way to' President Donald Trump's first term, Weeks says. In 2020, Trump's first-term Administration implemented Proclamation 10043, a restrictive visa policy on Chinese graduate students and researchers with ties to China's 'military-civil' universities. Around 1,000 Chinese scholars had their visas revoked under the policy, which persisted under the Biden Administration. The new restrictions may appear more expansive, but it's 'a lot of chest thumping,' Weeks says, adding that without further details, it doesn't appear to be substantively different from what's been in place for the last five years. 'It's almost domestic political posturing. There's folks in the State Department that may want to seem tough on China, but this idea of limiting visas for students pursuing critical fields is nothing new.' The ambiguity around the new policy and other recent decisions has thrown some Chinese students into a precarious position. The main change is that the criteria has been expanded from alleged military ties to ties to the CCP—but in effect, Weeks says, this will be logistically difficult to implement. A huge number of Chinese citizens have ties to the CCP: the party boasts a membership of around 100 million members, and even if someone isn't a member, it's likely they can be linked through someone they know who is. But people join for reasons beyond direct political involvement. 'To be a civil servant or work in a state enterprise, it's almost obligatory to be in the party,' one member told AFP. 'It's like a diploma. It opens doors.' On top of that, 'essentially every department of every Chinese university has a dual system of governance, where you've got the dean and you have the Communist Party Secretary,' Weeks says. Students may have also joined the Communist Youth League at some point, but it's almost akin to joining the Boy Scouts, he adds. 'The party is omnipresent in many Chinese universities,' Weeks says, but that doesn't mean that students are actively politically involved. 'The effort to try to disentangle and identify who has a party affiliation is practically extremely difficult.' If it's about national security, Jiang says, then it 'might not be the most effective move' to go after anyone with apparent affiliations with the CCP because 'you would have targeted a whole bunch of people that have nothing to do with politics or with national security matters.' 'There's a possibility that students could be vindictively targeted, especially if they're at a university like Harvard that's picked a fight with the Administration,' Weeks says. 'There's certainly a risk that we could have a McCarthyist sort of sweep.' Chinese students account for nearly a quarter—or more than 277,000—of all international students in the U.S., the second highest nationality behind Indian students, according to a 2024 Open Doors report. Many of these students are 'financially pretty self-sustaining,' Weeks says, which can be a significant contribution to university revenue. Chinese students also tend to have strong backgrounds in STEM and are typically highly academically motivated, he adds. They can be 'a critical lifeline for some programs.' 'There's just no market that is as big and as wealthy and as academically prepared as China,' Weeks says. Right now, among Chinese students and their families, there's concern, Weeks says, but not yet panic. U.S. universities have long held a 'tremendous amount of soft power,' he adds. 'In China, there's still a perception that certain other countries are easy, because they don't have as selective of admissions processes as the U.S. does, the degrees are shorter and thus less rigorous.' Many U.S. universities, even non-elite ones, have a kind of brand recognition among Chinese employers, while job opportunities in large American cities are 'unparalleled.' Chinese families have also watched Trump's other policies go on rollercoasters, including imposing heavy tariffs on China and the rest of the world before backing out. 'I think Chinese families are seeing that there's sometimes a lot of noise and bluster, then the final outcome is not ideal,' says Weeks, 'but it's certainly not apocalyptic either.' Still, if punitive policies towards Chinese international students persist, students may turn to alternative destinations, experts say. Read More: These Asian Universities Are Seeking to Attract Harvard Transfers as Trump Targets International Students 'Chinese parents view this environment as one of toxic uncertainty,' Weeks says. 'Chinese parents really gravitate towards the rule of law in a lot of these anglophone countries, so when they see that the rule of law in some places is under threat, that's deeply concerning to them.' The Trump Administration's attitude towards Chinese students is a far cry from the counterpart view of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has for years advocated for more American students to come to China. Xi in 2023 launched an initiative to bring in 50,000 Americans for exchanges and studies over five years. Last year, 16,000 Americans participated. 'There's recognition that when you don't have people-to-people exchanges, you lose an important bulwark against populist rhetoric on both sides,' Weeks says. 'China thinks that we need more, not less, exchange if we have disagreements.' On Wednesday evening, the same day that Rubio announced the decision, Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng touted people-to-people exchanges as foundational to U.S.-China relations. 'It is people-to-people ties that invigorate China-U.S. relations,' he said at his embassy. 'We warmly welcome all American friends to travel in China, shop in China, succeed in China and take part in Chinese modernisation. Come and see the country with your own eyes.' Jiang says when he thinks of his peers, friends, and faculty members, he feels very welcome in the U.S. But these moves by the Administration have spotlighted rhetoric that makes him feel less accepted. Some experts say the Administration's decision will lead to an erosion of trust between the two countries, which could ultimately impact trade negotiations—a key priority for the Trump Administration. 'This policy is an unfair treatment of Chinese citizens, which will intensify diplomatic tensions between China and the United States, undermining the easing atmosphere that had emerged following the Geneva talks,' Sun Chenghao, a fellow at Tsinghua University's Centre for International Security and Strategy, told the South China Morning Post, referencing the agreement between the U.S. and China to temporarily lower tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Thursday Fox News interview that trade talks with China are 'a bit stalled' and pushed for a call between Trump and Xi—who last spoke in January ahead of Trump's inauguration. 'I think China has made it clear that it would like to disentangle security disagreements and trade … from people-to-people exchanges,' Weeks says. Though he doesn't think the Trump Administration's education policies will ultimately undermine trade negotiations, he adds: 'I don't know if Trump or Rubio actually care that much about which student from what province is studying at what U.S. university, but I do think that they see international students unfortunately not as humans, but as bargaining chips.' Contact us at letters@
