On November 26, the Columbia Alumni Association of Chile (CAA Chile), in partnership with the Santiago Center, hosted its annual alumni reunion. The event, held at La Bottega Gandolini, welcomed over 80 alumni from various Columbia schools, providing an evening of camaraderie, networking, and celebration of the community's achievements.
This year, the Outstanding Alumni of the Year 2024 award was posthumously presented to Antonio Skármeta, the acclaimed writer, diplomat, and recipient of Chile's National Literature Prize, who passed away in October 2024. Accepting the award on his behalf was his widow, sculptor Nora Preperski, who received a commemorative gift in his honor.
Skármeta studied literature at Columbia from 1964 to 1966, earning a Master of Arts in the Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures. Reflecting on his time at the University, he once shared: “I had excellent professors, including Francisco García Lorca, the brother of Federico García Lorca, and Gonzalo Sobejano, who was my mentor in medieval Spanish literature, the Renaissance, and Cervantes’ Don Quixote.”
In 2008, Skármeta returned to Columbia for the first time since his graduation to speak at a conference. Reflecting on his time in New York, he remarked: “Why did I come to New York? Why was it so attractive to me, living so far away in Chile? For many years, my only dream was to get out of my country and live in New York. I wrote a lot of books about this need, this urge.”
CAA Chile, officially established as a legal entity in late 2021, continues to strengthen the Columbia alumni community in Chile. The association organizes diverse activities, ranging from cultural events to professional networking opportunities, fostering meaningful connections among alumni.
In June 2024, CAA Chile elected its second Board of Directors, who will serve until 2027. The current board comprises: President Juan Somavía (SIPA’98), Vice President Naisa Gormaz (TC’14), Secretary Manuel Blanco (LAW’96), Treasurer Alexander Hazbún (SIPA’14), and members Eliana Chamizo (SIPA’02), Pablo Gazzolo (SIPA’05), Valentina Lagos (SIPA’15), and Dan Poniachik (SIPA’20).
Please use this link to see pictures of the event.
