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Alumni News
SIPA Alumni Gather for a Day of Discussions and Celebrations
Posted Apr 02 2026
On March 28, over 270 alumni spanning generations returned to SIPA for a full day of conversation, connection, and celebration at Alumni Day and the Class Reunion Dinner. From the welcome breakfast in the International Affairs Building to the final notes of live music in Low Library's Rotunda, the day reflected the breadth of the SIPA community and a global network united by the ambition to drive meaningful change.
A sunny spring day greeted arriving alumni, who gathered for the International Fellows Program and reconnected with classmates and fellow graduates from across programs and decades. By mid-morning, the Low Rotunda filled with returning alumni for the day's central events.
“It is inspiring to see our vibrant alumni community around the world who volunteer their time each year providing career advice and mentorship to students and helping to organize regional events and initiatives like today’s Alumni Day and Reunion,” Columbia SIPA Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo said in pre-recorded remarks.
The Alumni Day luncheon brought together more than 250 attendees for a program that highlighted the School’s legacy and forward-looking agenda. Paul Lindberg EMPA ’21, chair of the SIPA Alumni Association, opened the luncheon, which included the presentation of the 2026 SIPA Alumni Awards recognizing distinguished achievements and service to SIPA.
Dean Emerita Lisa Anderson presented the Service to SIPA Award to David B. Ottaway IF ’63, ’63GSAS, ’72GSAS, honoring his longstanding commitment to the School and International Fellows Program. Daniel White MPA ’20 presented the Emerging Leader Award to Alexandre Tourre MPA ’16, CEO and cofounder of Easy Solar, an innovative asset financing company unlocking access to solar power across West Africa, while Mozelle Thompson ’76CC, IF ’79, ’81LAW presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to Simón Salas ’79CC, MPA ’83, ’83LAW for his exemplary career in public service, nonprofit leadership, and education administration.
Following the awards, alumni heard from a panel of SIPA faculty—moderated by Rumela Sen and featuring Scott Barrett, Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, and Tamar Mitts—who underscored SIPA’s academic priorities and engagement with pressing global challenges, from AI to democratic backsliding both abroad and in the United States.
Afternoon panels at Faculty House reflected the diversity of SIPA’s intellectual community, with sessions on urban policy innovation and global leadership that brought together alumni practitioners and faculty to examine the changing landscape of governance and the future of US engagement abroad.
Additional panels focused on emerging challenges at the intersection of technology, security, and development finance, including the impact of technological advances on global security and strategies for mobilizing investment in climate resilience, food security, and sustainable development in vulnerable markets.
Between panel sessions, alumni renewed connections over coffee breaks and a farewell champagne reception. The evening concluded with the class reunion in Low Library, celebrating milestone reunions for classes ending in ones and sixes and featuring live music, dinner remarks, and class photos.
SIPA Alumni Day and Reunion 2026 showcased the vitality of the SIPA network and the shared sense of purpose that connects its graduates across generations and time zones, returning not only to reconnect with one another, but also to engage with the ideas and challenges that continue to define SIPA’s mission in a rapidly changing world.