Patricia Schramm – ETH CIRCLE

Patricia Schramm
Strategic Consultant and Former President of the American Swiss Foundation

I have long been fascinated by the story of ETH’s founding: created as a federally funded university just after Switzerland became a democracy, it was charged with educating citizens who would give back to society through the skills they gained. That mission has been fulfilled many times over. Today, ETH graduates contribute at the forefront of their fields in Switzerland and around the globe. ETH is proof that taxpayer support for high-quality education delivers extraordinary returns for society.

Ironically, my knowledge of ETH deepened only after I left Switzerland for New York. With the American Swiss Foundation, I visited labs, centers, and departments and saw firsthand the university’s role as an engine of innovation. Switzerland may be steeped in tradition, but ETH shows that this does not preclude pioneering research and teaching that propel Switzerland to the top of global innovation rankings year after year.

As a member of the ETH Circle, I aim to increase ETH’s visibility in the U.S. and to engage in discussions about its future needs. The Circle serves as a diverse, international brain trust that combines a uniquely Swiss perspective with a global outlook. I am proud to serve as an ambassador for ETH, building bridges from Switzerland to the world.