Inspired by SIS, Alum Seeks to Create Better Society in Mexico

SIS just struck Francisco Leon, SIS/MA ’87, as a different kind of place.  The school didn’t fit into the traditional mold of a university.  “It reminds me of an agora, a public space and an essential part of the ancient Greek polis, or city-state,” he says.  “It is a place not just to learn, but to find the space in which you can build solutions for a troubled world.”

Leon, a member of the SIS Dean’s Advisory Council, chose the school for the quality of its discourse, which he believes forms a sound foundation for the training of future world leaders.  He was impressed with the range and diversity of opinions which informed a range of issues, including world conflict resolution, economic models for sustained development, political turmoil diplomacy, and global warming – but above all, he says, “peace and consensus building.”

Supporting SIS is important to Leon because he believes strongly in its mission: to train international leaders for world service.  He returned to his native Mexico after graduation and turned down the comforts of employment within the existing system, choosing instead to “fight corruption and create a better society in Mexico.”

SIS, says Leon, “was a magical place that created consciousness.”  His experience left a deep impression on him, just as he believes it leaves an impact on others.  “You will never be the same person after studying at SIS,” he says.