On March 21, English and Spanish-speaking alumni from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in person and virtually for the fourth annual Alumni Day celebration. It was a spectacular example of teamwork and camaraderie among the WJPC graduates from several countries, partner institutions, and WJPC staff and faculty.

Perry Center Director Dr. Paul Angelo, Perry Center faculty and staff, and US Embassy representatives numbered amongst the event’s participants. In the Dominican Republic, the event was held at the National Defense University’s (UNADE) Graduate School of Advanced Strategic Studies (EGAEE) headquarters, with Dominican Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Diaz Morfa, a WJPC alumnus himself, in attendance. In Mexico, the event was held at the School of Social Sciences of the University of the University of the Americas Puebla (UDLAP), with the attendance of Dr. Jose Gerardo Traslosheros Hernandez, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Professor Gerardo Rodriguez Sanchez Lara (Department of International Relations and Political Science), and Professor Israel Joab Sifri Cortes, Director of UDLAP’s Mexico City Extension.

In this year’s celebration, a group of alumni introduced the podcast project, “La Voz Hemisférica,” born at the first Alumni Leaders’ Summit 2023 in Washington, DC.

This alumni activity was the second fully-hybrid Alumni Day celebration, attended by over 220 participants and broadcast simultaneously from Washington DC, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico to the entire WJPC community. The concept of Alumni Day was initially conceived by an alumni working group, then quickly embraced by the Perry Center leadership. March 27 was designated as Alumni Day to commemorate the first Perry Center resident course’s graduation date in 1998. Alumni Day is an annual event designed to celebrate the impact and strength of the alumni network with a focus on community, cooperation, and leadership.