On Tuesday April 26, Ambassador LeVine and her husband Mr. Eric LeVine visited the Adolphe Merkle Institute at the University of Fribourg. The visit consisted of a round table with graduate and post-doc students followed by a presentation to students, professors, institution leaders, and cantonal officials.
In the round table discussion on work-life continuum, Ambassador LeVine and Mr. LeVine shared personal stories and talked about their non-linear career paths. They expressed that career success is based not only on your academic qualifications, but also on the support of one’s family. Other topics discussed where were the changing dynamics in the world in relation to gender equality and gender roles. Ambassador LeVine and Mr. LeVine talked about their roles as parents as an example of how gender roles are changing. At the end of the discussion, students were able to ask questions to Ambassador LeVine and Mr. LeVine on ways to move forward in their respected careers.
Following the round table discussion, Ambassador LeVine gave a presentation on innovation and education. In her remarks she compared Swiss and American approaches to innovation and discussed the role education can play in creating innovative thinkers. Ambassador LeVine explained that schools like High Tech High in San Diego California are models for the next generation of education, because these schools focus on project-based learning with a multi-disciplinary approach and teachers functioning as a coach.
