Distinguished Alumni Awards

Victoria I. Villarreal ('86 A&S, '88 MBA)

Viki came to Saint Louis University from the Philippines through its 2+2 program, studying between Madrid and St. Louis, where she earned her undergraduate degree in computer science in 1986 and later an MBA in 1988. She began her career in software consulting in Missouri before moving to Madrid in 1988 to serve as business manager for the campus.

When SLU established a permanent campus in Madrid, Viki played a central role in acquiring and developing the buildings that became Padre Arrupe and Padre Rubio halls, later becoming the campus’ first director of finance. In 2008, she was promoted to director of finance and operations, overseeing key areas such as facilities, HR, IT, and finance through periods of significant growth and hardship, including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic. Under her leadership, SLU-Madrid tripled in size and scope, with Viki contributing to every major expansion.

Her impact has been recognized across the University. In 2022, she received the SLU Woman of the Year Award, and in 2023 she was appointed interim co-director for administration before becoming vice director and associate vice president and chief financial officer. She later served on the Presidential Search Committee that led to the appointment of SLU's 34th president, Edward Feser, Ph.D.

Viki has served under every SLU-Madrid administration since the campus’ founding, including that of its first director, Raymond L. Sullivant, S.J. A true Billiken, she and her family hold an impressive seven SLU degrees — three graduate and four undergraduate — earned by herself, her husband, and their two children.  

Viki has been an invaluable, selfless servant to SLU-Madrid. She has served with thoughtfulness, wisdom and humility. She has helped steer SLU-Madrid on a steady course. There is perhaps no single person who has contributed more to establishing SLU-Madrid as the pre-eminent American University in Spain and indeed in Europe. We believe that Father Sullivant would wholeheartedly endorse her reception of this award. She has devoted her life to SLU’s mission, and her admirers are many — students, alumni, faculty, staff, neighbors of our campus, and even future Billikeños. Viki truly embodies SLU.

Felipe Queipo Rego ('06)

Felipe Queipo Rego is a programme management and communications officer in the Civil Society Unit of the United Nations Department of Global Communications in New York. Since 2008, he has worked to connect the UN with civil society, youth and faith-based organizations, focusing on listening, dialogue, and intercultural awareness. He leads initiatives that foster communication on issues like migration, gender equality, and peacebuilding, while advancing strategies to engage civil society worldwide.

With over 17 years of experience, he leads global initiatives such as the Civil Society Conference in Nairobi 2024 and coordinates university engagement programs like "Ask Me Anything" on public diplomacy.  

Working closely with Laura Muro, Ph.D., professor at SLU-Madrid, together, they have advanced initiatives aimed at ensuring SLU-Madrid is an active participant in international conferences, UN-led dialogues, and global education forums. Through workshops, academic exchanges, and strategic guidance, Felipe supports the University in building stronger bridges between its campus, global policy arenas, and the UN. This empowers students to see themselves as agents of global change.

Felipe has contributed to academic work, including writing on corporate social responsibility and co-editing SDG conference volumes. Originally from Spain, he holds a degree in political science from Brigham Young University–Idaho and brings a creative background in opera, which informs his approach to communication.  

Felipe is known for his exceptional humility, generosity, and integrity — qualities that elevate every initiative in which he participates. His personal leadership style is rooted in empathy and respect, making him not only an effective public servant but also a role model for ethical global leadership.

Claire Meyer ('14 BSBA)

Claire earned her undergraduate degree in international business. After graduating, she interned with the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, and then began her career in Washington, D.C., at the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at the George Washington University School of Business.

Driven to sharpen her business acumen, Claire earned an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Milan in 2019. She then went on to participate in an exchange program in Shanghai with the China Europe International Business School. All this, before joining Anheuser-Busch InBev as a global sourcing manager. There, she worked at the intersection of procurement and sustainability in Zug, Switzerland. In 2021, she returned to Milan to work in consulting with BPI, a boutique firm specializing in organizational transformation.

Motivated by a growing interest in climate and sustainability, she completed a master's degree in energy and sustainability at Northwestern University in 2025. Now based in Paris, Claire works as a consultant across Europe and the U.S., partnering with clients in power generation, waste management and beyond.

Claire is known for her curiosity, drive, and consistently kind and respectful attitude.  Her attitude of, "try anything", and "I'm not too good for any experience," has taken her across the globe, and she always helps those she comes into contact with.  She has actively maintained contact with SLU-Madrid, visiting our careers classes to share guidance and network with our students and share her learning with the Career Services Department.  She is a clear embodiment of someone who gives back to every community she passes through.

Marta Moreno, Ph.D.

When alumni and former students return to campus, one of the first people they ask to see is Marta. Marta joined Saint Louis University in 1998 as a part-time professor of statistics and mathematics. She became a full-time faculty member after completing her Ph.D., in 2000. Over the past 28 years, she has held several leadership roles, including department chair of sciences; department chair of business and economics, and is program director of international business.  

Throughout her career, Marta has taught thousands of students across a wide range of subjects, including statistics, mathematics, and econometrics. Time and again, former and current students speak about her class and the lasting impact of her exceptional teaching. Beyond academic instruction, she imparts important life lessons, including how to accept failure with grace. She is demanding yet consistently fair. She has often acted as an academic advisor and mentor, is a central reason many former students are where they are in their careers and chosen fields.

Marta is also a dedicated institutional citizen who actively contributes to the betterment of SLU-Madrid. She has served on committees whenever called upon and consistently supports the university’s mission. Marta's career reflects a sustained commitment to excellence in teaching, leadership, and mentorship, making her a truly deserving recipient of this recognition.

ONG Rescate Internacional

Fundada por Albert Einstein, ONG Rescate tiene una trayectoria con sus comienzos en el año 1933, desde ayudar a los refugiados del régimen nazi hasta en la actualidad ayudando a las víctimas de la guerra en Ucrania.  Su trabajo abarca escenarios de lo más variados como África y el Oriente Medio, y tiene presencia en España desde el año 1960.   

For decades, ONG Rescate has been at the forefront of protecting people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and humanitarian crises. Its work focuses on helping refugees rebuild their lives with dignity by safeguarding their fundamental rights and providing essential services. They are healers in a world that needs healing. 

SLU-Madrid is proud to partner with ONG Rescate, which allows us to actively support their vital work and reinforce our shared commitment to service, solidarity, and human dignity. 

Consuelo Benito Olalla, Ph.D. ('93)

Consuelo Benito Olalla is the director of sustainability and social impact at Advantere School of Management, a Jesuit institution in Madrid. Before pivoting to academia, she worked at Citibank Spain for over 16 years.

Timothy Gustavo Curtin, Ed.D. ('93, '04)

Timothy Curtin's career has focused on education, serving as the office director for education and youth programs at the U.S. Embassy in Juba, South Sudan. He has managed education programs in Afghanistan, El Salvador, Jamaica, Lebanon and Nigeria.

Carlos Saballos ('05)

Carlos Saballos ('05) earned the Professional Achievement Award for his international career in finance. He spent the bulk of his corporate banking career in Miami, where he helped mitigate financial risk for corporations based in Spain and Latin America. He is now a manager of investment operation at a private fintech advisory firm.

Paul-Emile Gerlier ('20)

Paul-Emile Gerlier is based in South Korea for work with La Bouche Rouge, a luxury French brand. After graduating from SLU-Madrid, he pursued an MBA at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.

Shariqa Habib ('15)

Shariqa's educational journey includes studying Business Studies at Agrani School & College, Political Science and Communications at SLU-Madrid, and International Development at Lund University.

With experience as an information and communication officer at the European Commission, senior online community manager at ICF Mostra, and journalist at English Warehouse, Shariqa has developed a strong skill set in communication and community engagement. Having worked as a social media consultant at the International Labour Organization and as a columnist at The Daily Star BD, Shariqa showcases expertise in social media management and content creation.

Shariqa's passion for international development and management is evident through her academic pursuits, including a master's degree in the International Development and Management Programme from Lund University.

Anne McCabe, Ph.D.

Anne McCabe, Ph.D. has taught at SLU-Madrid since 1990. An applied linguist, she has published widely on systemic functional linguistics, discourse analysis and bilingual education. She has also served in leadership roles at the campus, including associate dean, division director and University Core director.

Blomeyer & Sanz

Blomeyer & Sanz assists European, international and civil society organisations worldwide by providing research and evaluation services. Blomeyer & Sanz has been a great community partner to SLU-Madrid, providing internships and hiring recent graduates from the university.

Wedge Global

Wedge Global's mission is to lead innovation in offshore marine technology, using their creativity to develop R&D projects that generate sustainable solutions. They are committed to being pioneers in research and development, driving a greener and more efficient future in the field of ocean energy. 

Edgardo Rodriguez-Quilichini ('83-'84)

A SLU-Madrid alumnus and U.S. administrative law judge, Edgardo Rodriguez-Quilichini has dedicated both his career and personal life to serving others and creating meaningful impact within the communities he serves. His transformational journey reflects discipline, critical thinking, and a lifelong commitment to learning, embodying SLU's mission of being a "man for others."

Alberto Palomo, Ph.D. ('04)

Alberto obtained his Ph.D. in mathematical physics before working at Huawei’s R+D lab in Toronto, where he developed numerical simulations for neural networks. He then spent five years leading the technical development of data science applications for a large U.S. electric utility company. Two years ago, he was appointed chief data officer for the government of Spain. The Spanish National Data Office has prescribed an architectural and governance model for the deployment of a country-level horizontal data infrastructure. He is also currently the chair of the Governmental Advisory Board to Gaia-X, which serves to align the European public data policy agendas with the union's industrial activities.

Jaime Ortiz ('09 M.A.)

Jaime Ortiz earned his licenciatura in English philology from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. He also has a background in translation, and he received a dual degree — a Master of Arts in English from Saint Louis University and a Master of Arts in Estudios literarios anglo-norteamericanos from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Jaime has over 20 years of experience in customer service. He joined the SLU-Madrid advising staff in 2011 and has served as academic advisor and assistant dean. He is currently the director of academic advising. His primary responsibilities include supervising student advising, working closely with the other student-support services on campus, and coordinating with academic departments and the academic leadership on academic planning and student-success initiatives; he also advises juniors and seniors, and ensures students meet all requirements for graduation.

Rayana Elgrabli ('20 B.A.)

Rayana Elgrabli is an activity coordinator at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), where they support the design and implementation of peacebuilding and conflict resolution programs across the MENA region. They also co-founded a nonprofit Libyan organization focused on empowering Libyan youth through storytelling, advocacy, and digital engagement initiatives. She holds a B.A. in political science and communication from SLU-Madrid and completed studies in global diplomacy at Sciences Po. Fluent in Arabic, English, and Spanish, Rayana is passionate about youth empowerment, education, and social justice.

John Patrick Mullin ('14 B.A.)

John Mullin is an entrepreneur and builder specializing in DeFi, blockchain technology, digital assets, and Web3. He is the co-founder and CEO of MANTRA, a technology tokenizing real world assets. He is also the co-founder of SOMA.finance, a U.S.-regulated decentralized finance application. John has raised tens of millions of dollars for these ventures, overseeing global teams. With more than a decade of experience working in the digital assets space, his expertise includes decentralized finance and exchange/brokerage businesses. While living and working in China, John built a community outside of banking in Shanghai, writing, speaking, and hosting events focused on FinTech. This first quasientrepreneurial hustle inspired him to quit his job at the bank and begin working on a crypto exchange project in Hong Kong as a founding partner. This initial entrepreneurial venture was the turning point in John’s life, where he realized he wanted to "be his own boss" for the rest of his life. Fascinated by people and cultures, John gets immense professional joy from building businesses, solving challenging problems, and leading teams of talented individuals. He resides happily with his wife and two dogs, Loki the Husky and Riley the Eskimo Corgi.

Rejane Queiroz

Fundación Sanders

Jessica de la Morena ('96-'98)

Jessica de la Morena is CEO and founder of two companies: Creating the Unimaginable, which helps transform companies to lead them towards a successful future; and U are the Hero, an app that supports people overcoming difficult challenges in their life such as mental health issues, cancer, and domestic abuse. She created these companies after working more than 20 years at companies such as American Express, KPMG Spain and Amadeus.

De la Morena is an International MBA professor at IE. She is also a TLC Lion Storyteller, a board member with the World Happiness Foundation, chair of the Transformational Leadership Committee and chair of the World Empowerment and Wellness Commission.

Rodrigo Urbina ('09 BSBA)

While Rodrigo Urbina was a sergeant in the U.S. Army in Iraq, he discovered how much he loved volunteering and helping others. After being in the army, he earned a degree in international business from SLU-Madrid. While studying, he also taught English in Ethiopia. After graduating, he worked at Cobra and Randstad, but soon returned to SLU-Madrid to work in the Office of Student Life.

He then became director of student life at New York University in Madrid. He eventually settled in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Once there, he started volunteering at the Red Cross and now he is the director of the Red Cross Emergency Attention Center, assisting refugees during the current migration crisis. He is currently preparing for public service exams to work with inmates in the penitentiary system.

Yasmina Benslimane ('17 B.A.)

Yasmina Benslimane has more than seven years of experience as a feminist human rights defender at human rights institutions, nongovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies in several countries. She received a B.A. in Political Science from SLU-Madrid, an M.A. in International Law and Settlement from the United Nations Mandated University for Peace and is pursuing an M.A. in Forced Migration and Refugee Protection Studies with the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

Benslimane has given talks at universities, radio stations, NGOs, U.N. agencies, and youth-led initiatives about social and global issues. She is a trained U.N. Women peacebuilder and a certified women-empowerment coach, helping women learn about leadership. Finally, she is also the founder of Politics4Her, a feminist youth-led blog encouraging women to be included in politics.

Katherine Espinosa ('13 B.A.)

Katherine Espinosa continues to be an active member of the SLU-Madrid community by hosting Alumni Award and convocation ceremonies. She received her B.A. in Spanish from SLU-Madrid in 2013 and a master's in Applied Linguistics from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and EFL and professional translation certifications.  

Espinosa has been a part of the communication industry for more than 10 years as a communication and language arts teacher at Saint Charles College, public speaking and intercultural communication trainer, co-founder of the Intercultural Pro Network, and as the vice president and senior developer for Leadership for Leaders.

Xavier Cottini, MBA

Xavier Cottini is an accounting and finance professor at SLU-Madrid. He earned a B.S. in business administration from Université d'Orléans in 1987. He then received an MBA in finance from SLU-St. Louis in 1989. He completed an advanced program of credit risk analysis at Instituto de Estudios Bursátiles in 2004.

British Embassy Madrid and Macmillan Education

Both organizations have collaborated with Career Services at SLU-Madrid, providing students with hands-on internships. 

Íñigo Quejigo-López ('98 BSBA, '02 MBA)

Íñigo Quijigo-López, who earned both his undergraduate degree in business as well as his MBA from SLU-Madrid and SLU-St. Louis, has worked at Mastercard for the last 22 years. He is senior vice president and regional lead for Mastercard Operations & Technology for Latin America and the Caribbean. As a part of the Latin American executive leadership team, Quijigo-López works across business and technical stakeholders to build, run and execute regionally relevant and globally scalable technology solutions across the region.

He is also the co-executive sponsor of the PRIDE business resource group at Mastercard, in support of the LGBTQ+ community, fostering an environment of inclusiveness, diversity and collaboration.

Teresa Pérez-Piqueras ('06 CSCI)

Teresa Pérez-Piqueras started her degree at SLU-Madrid and graduated with a B.S. in computer science from SLU-St. Louis. She started her professional career at Indra in configuration management in the Simulation Department and went on to a management role at Bombardier in the railway industry. She now serves as a Passenger Information System Engineer at Talgo, helping railway operators provide service in 44 countries across four continents.

Pérez-Piqueras was instrumental in starting the SLU-Madrid Alumni Association and has taken an active role in planning, marketing and participating in events from the start. She has also served as the president and co-president of the SLU-Madrid Alumni Committee since 2004.

Maitane Aramburu ('16 B.S.B.A.)

Upon graduating from SLU-Madrid with a degree in international business, Maitane Aramburu Blanco started her career at Banco Santander, where she has been growing professionally for the past five years, fulfilling different roles within the group and taking an active role in social initiatives such as Santander Women's Network.

In her current role within the Santander Corporate & Investment Banking's sustainability team, she structures financial products for projects and companies that are contributing to the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This role has allowed her to explore ways in which her financial career can be fused with her passion for positively impacting society.

Fernando Restoy ('16 B.S.B.A.)

Fernando Restoy's journey of self-actualization began in Cambodia in 2014, when he first went to volunteer for Pour un Sourire d'Enfant (PSE), an NGO dedicated to changing the lives of Cambodian children suffering from defeatism and the vicious cycles of drug addiction, prostitution, gambling and violence. He observed that suffering in Cambodia did not end with the Khmer Rouge genocide and saw a need for children and adults to develop emotional self-awareness and empathy. After reading Emotional Intelligence, Dr. Daniel Goleman's bestseller, Restoy realized how he could be of service.

After graduating from SLU-Madrid with a degree in international business and earning a master's degree in international relations, Restoy interned at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. There, he initiated, planned and coordinated the first UN Conference on Emotional Intelligence. Since then, he has launched a distinguished career in the field. He has been invited to speak at the World Economic Forum in New York and at the Egmont Institute in Brussels, and wrote the Emotional Intelligence and the Sustainable Development Goals chapter in the Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Most recently he founded the Ripple Effect, an organization with a mission driven by his dream to help adults, children, and youth worldwide build emotional intelligence and improve the future of communities that have been stricken by war and poverty.

Laura Muro, Ph.D.

In the words of one of the students who nominated Muro for the award: "Laura Muro is not only an incredible professor but also a wonderful person. She sees the skills and qualities in students that the students do not see in themselves. Then, she motivates them to strengthen those skills and make use of them. Laura understands what it means to learn."

Iván López (Class of '95)

López works in the Global IFRS and Offering Services division of Deloitte.

López is a graduate of Saint Louis University, having attended both campuses and obtaining an undergraduate degree in business and an MBA. As a son of Saint Louis University for life, he greatly values his liberal arts education, as well as the drive and innovation young graduates bring to the company. He has taken on numerous SLU-Madrid students and graduates, giving them opportunities to intern and to start their careers in one of the world's foremost consulting firms.

Juan Sitges Breiter ('95 Bus Admin)

Juan Sitges Breiter '95 was selected as recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work in the areas of dependency, disability, and the promotion of health and social welfare. 

Lisa Pietropola ('09 MA Spanish)

Lisa Pietropola '09 (M.A. in Spanish), received the Professional Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding innovation as an educator. Highlights include a bilingual literacy outreach project within the United States and abroad. 

Sarah Trainor Graves ('12)

Sarah Trainor Graves '12 received the Emerging Leader Award in recognition of the meaningful work she does on behalf of African Americans and other marginalized populations in attaining social and economic equality. 

Vicky Albornoz, Ph.D.

Vicky Albornoz, Ph.D. (Spanish) was selected for the Alumni Faculty Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the education, growth and careers of others. 

Fernando Álvarez Antón, '96 (B.S. in Business Administration, cum laude)

Fernando received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his success in business and his commitment to the University community.

Maureen Ann Grider, '71 (B.A. in Spanish)

Maureen received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to SLU – both in Madrid and St. Louis – and her 40+ year career as an insurance executive.

Silvia Bayón, '01 (B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, summa cum laude, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering '02)

Silvia received the Professional Achievement Award for her accomplishments in the aerospace industry.

Martha Laura García, '12 (B.A. in Political Science, Ibero-American Studies Certificate, cum laude)

Martha has devoted her career to fighting for immigrant and refugee rights, received the Emerging Leader Award.

Tomás Rodríguez Cano

Alumni selected professor Tomás Rodríguez Cano for this honor, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to teaching history and his ability to make it come alive in the classroom.

Tadzoka Pswarayi, '10, (English, International Studies, and Political Science)

Tadzola made significant contributions to society since graduating from SLU-Madrid. She co-founded and directs Impact Harare, a business incubator and social enterprise community center that focuses on social good initiatives and helps to scale their impact. She also works as an independent International Development Consultant where she has worked on projects with USAID, FHI 360 Talent Cloud, and The World Bank Analytical Trust Fund.

Pswarayi has worked in the technology sector to work towards gender equality through programming that teaches girls and women digital literacy and coding. She is the Zimbabwean lead for Seedstars World, the biggest global tech competition in emerging markets, and coordinates the Zimbabwean team for the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge. She also works as a freelance journalist with This is Africa. She is truly the embodiment of women for others.

Andreea Niculea, '05, (Business Administration)

After Niculea graduated from SLU-Madrid, she worked as a consultant at Interbrand before pursuing a Master of Science in Financial Management at the University of London. She then moved into management positions at Bankinter and Innotarget in Madrid before relocating to Beijing to serve as the managing director at trommsdorff + drüner. She later served as their director of International Business Development in Berlin. For the past two years, Niculea has worked at Banca March in Mallorca, first as the chief data officer, and now as the chief digital transformation officer. She also serves as an advisor to various startups. Niculea is truly a citizen of the world who honors the principles of Jesuit education in her work.

Saint Louis University-Madrid (SLU-Madrid) Alumni Association connects alumni with each other as well as the University.

SLU-Madrid recognizes that it is important to remain in contact with its alumni to develop a network that supports the University's development while providing a forum for past students and graduates to communicate.

Name and Purpose

• The name of the organization shall be the SLU-Madrid Alumni Association ("The Association")
• The purpose of the Association shall be:
  • To maintain and encourage contact among members.
  • To create links between students, graduates, the professions and industry.
  • To foster and encourage interest in SLU-Madrid.
  • To work for the development and strengthening of education at SLU-Madrid.
  • To help create positive public relations for SLU-Madrid by keeping track of the achievements of former SLU-Madrid students.
  • To help SLU-Madrid graduates to find their place in the workplace through networking with other members of the Association and professional and industry bodies.
  • To help members of the Association to grow both personally and professionally.
  • To help to raise funds for the SLU-Madrid that could be used for purposes such as: library needs, for scholarships and student amenities.

Membership

All past students, present and past staff and faculty members of SLU-Madrid, present and past SLU-Madrid Executive Board members and other such persons as recommended by the SLU-Madrid staff and/or other alumni members and approved by the Association Committee are entitled to be and are deemed to be members of the Association.

As an active member of the SLU-Madrid Alumni Association, you will be encouraged to stay in touch with your alma mater by attending SLU-Madrid events, alumni association meetings, etc.

Fees

No fees shall be charged with relation to members of the Association.

Association Committee

A volunteer committee will be formed to plan and manage the activities of the association. This committee shall meet as needed. The University's staff representatives are ex-officio members of the committee. The committee will hold an annual general meeting, at which they will elect a president to lead the committee and the Association's activities.

• The president's term will be for 1 year from the date of election; the president is eligible for re-election.
• The president will be responsible for forming committees to plan and manage all activities.
• If the president resigns, the committee shall have the authority to appoint a new president.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

• An AGM shall be conducted each year.
• The AGM shall:
  
  • Elect the president of the association for the next year.
  • Hear reports on the association and SLU-Madrid.
  • Conduct such business as is brought to the AGM.
• Three committee members and three other members at the AGM shall constitute a quorum.

Finances

Finance to operate the Association shall be provided by funds raised by the Association, along with resources from SLU-Madrid's operating budget, upon approval.

Amendments to the Constitution

Amendments to this constitution shall require:

• To constitute a quorum at an AGM or a special meeting.
• Two-thirds of present members voting in favor of the proposal at AGM or at a special meeting.
• Members shall be advised of proposed amendments at least 21 days before the meeting.