Connecting with ETH Alumni in Cleveland, Ohio

Driving 700 km from New York to Cleveland for a conference may not be the first choice for many, but for my husband and me, it was an opportunity we couldn’t resist. We love taking long drives across the vast American countryside. The invitation to attend the first-ever Swiss American Partnership Summit as an ETH Ambassador provided the perfect excuse for a road trip.

In early May, the ETH Alumni Association joined forces with the Honorary Consul of Switzerland, Marianne Bernadotte, to bring together ETH alumni and leaders in science, technology, and business. Cleveland, renowned for its medical excellence and innovation, provided the perfect setting for the day-long conference, hosted by The Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University, a leading national research university with established collaborations with ETH Zurich.

One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Lesley Ko, whose smile lit up the room as she spoke about her time at ETH Zurich. Originally from Taipei, Lesley completed her Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, while her husband, Albert Tien, pursued a Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology. They settled in Lenzburg while working for Holcim, the world’s largest cement and concrete manufacturer, to raise their two children. Ten years ago, they embarked on new adventures in the United States. A job opportunity with BASF Construction Chemicals has brought Lesley and her family to Cleveland, Ohio. Lesley’s gratitude for ETH was palpable as she credits the institution not only for her outstanding education but also for introducing her to a world-class business environment.

Another remarkable individual I met was Artur Czerniejewski, the head of the Swiss Business Hub USA. Born and raised in Poland, Artur moved to Switzerland to study Electrical Engineering at ETH Zurich. Following a distinguished career in business, he joined Switzerland Global Enterprise and has been based in New York since last year. Artur’s story is a testament to the global reach and influence of ETH Zurich alumni.

The Summit concluded with an elegant reception hosted by Ambassador Niculin Jäger of the Consulate General of Switzerland. I had the pleasure of speaking with Larry and Jean Rhodes, who both completed postdocs in Chemistry at ETH Zurich. Their stories of academic and personal growth mirrored the experiences shared by the other alumni at the event.

The next day, I met Professor Alexis Block for lunch in Cleveland’s Little Italy. Alexis, who completed her Ph.D. in Computer Science at ETH in 2021, recently moved to Cleveland to teach at Case Western Reserve University. Over pasta and espresso, she shared her experiences, including the creation of the HuggieBot, an interactive robot that gives hugs using visual and haptic perception. (She chronicled the project in her own ETH Ambassador’s Blog during her Ph.D. studies.)

As we drove back to New York, I reflected on the wealth of new insights gained in such a short period. The Summit facilitated connections between people and ideas from diverse backgrounds, fostering lasting personal and institutional relationships through shared experiences. I met remarkable ETH alumni and learned about groundbreaking innovations in research and medicine. It was well worth the 1’400 km drive.