A reception and lecture was held by the Graduate Institute Alumni Chapter of Washington D.C. on October 14, 2008, in honor of Professor Alexander Swoboda, former Director of the Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI), who recently retired from teaching after a long and illustrious career.
The Embassy of Switzerland extended its cordial hospitality to host the evening, and the welcoming remarks were given by Mr. Urs Ziswiler, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States. Professor Swoboda was honored by former students of the IHEID as well as colleagues and friends. The current Director of the Graduate Institute, Professor Philippe Burrin, spoke on recent developments for the Institute in Geneva. Professor Michael Mussa, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington D.C., gave the keynote address. Both Professors Swoboda and Mussa were colleagues at the International Monetary Fund and both taught at the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago as well as at the IHEID. Professor Mussa highlighted the numerous achievements of Alexander Swoboda during his career, including his election as President of the Swiss Society for Economics and Statistics in 2002, and his contributions to the economic literature and analysis in the area of international monetary and financial issues, macroeconomics and monetary unions.
On behalf of the Graduate Institute Alumni Chapter of Washington D.C., Paul Mathieu announced that the Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund established in December 2007 had raised almost $10,000 to date, thanks to the generous contributions of more than 30 people. The FERIS Foundation has agreed to equally match any new gifts above the $6,000 level, to try and reach a full scholarship target of $18,000 for the academic year 2009/ 2010. As of January 2009, this total has now reached $16,800 so the chapter has almost reached its goal.
The evening was a successful event and a fitting tribute to Alexandre Swoboda who has contributed in so many capacities to the renown of the Graduate Institute and who has done so much to advance the careers of his students over the years. Our thanks go the Embassy of Switzerland and their staff for their generous support.
