Cultivating Communities Near and Far

By Sherri Pancer Wolf ’90
“The greatest college in the greatest university in the greatest city in the world.” As an alumna living 200 miles away in Boston for the last three decades, I appreciate the geographic challenges around maintaining a relationship with Columbia. The Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA) has annual events and outreach in many communities outside of the Tri-State area because we value alumni both near and far. The West Coast has emerged as the second-largest location for Columbia graduates and is a great example of how alumni make their presence and impact felt beyond the Northeast.


This year marked the second annual West Coast Honors, an event at which the CCAA recognizes outstanding alumni who reside on the West Coast. We present awards for exceptional volunteerism and notable professional achievements to alumni in San Francisco and Los Angeles. This year’s events took place on June 5 in L.A. and June 6 in San Francisco. We were excited to have Dean Josef Sorett join us, demonstrating the strong bonds with Columbia that exist even more than 3,000 miles from College Walk. Here, we introduce you to the four honorees. They share how the College shaped them, the ways they stay connected and how they give back.


Lauren Accordino ’09
Trailblazer Award (Los Angeles)

When I left New York for Los Angeles, I was thrilled to be reunited with my family; however, I felt like I was leaving my Columbia community behind. I discovered the Young Leaders Council and was excited to be tasked with launching and building the YLC chapter in Los Angeles. I established digital events that connected YLC members nationwide, while in person, our YLC members have built a tight-knit community through intimate dinners, career-coaching workshops and partnerships with the Columbia College Fund’s Fund Development Council and Alumnae Legacy Circle for events. I’m excited about our newest program, Core Connections, which aims to create deeper relationships among YLC, FDC and ALC and members.

I give because I love Columbia. I am so proud of the education I received and am truly grateful for the experience that I had. I met the love of my life, created lifelong friendships, and developed critical thinking and an intellectual openness to new ideas. I feel a duty to give back to the school due to all it has given to me. I am forever proud to say, “I am a Columbia alumna.”

Chris Jones ’07
Trailblazer Award (San Francisco)

After stepping down as president of the Black Alumni Council, I helped establish a BAC Bay Area Chapter in 2018, and in 2020, I assumed the role of inaugural diversity director for the Columbia University Alumni Club of Northern California. I worked to promote diversity and inclusion at a time when the country was quarantined and social justice issues were at the forefront of public discourse. Currently, as co-chair of the Columbia Alumni Association Board’s Associations and Clubs Committee, I contribute to the development and support of alumni organizations across the West Coast. My motivation to give back stems from a profound appreciation for the opportunities and experiences I gained at the College. I believe that by engaging with alumni, I can strengthen the University and support current and future students.

Melissa De La Cruz ’93
Spirit of Creativity and Innovation Award (Los Angeles)

Columbia was an amazing place to meet and learn from people from all across the world. My College best friend is Australian, and we bonded over being immigrants.

My family left the Philippines when I was 13. I had only been in the USA for four years when I arrived at Columbia; I say that it was the place I felt I became American. I had always harbored dreams of becoming a writer, and my friends were incredibly supportive. My professors of literature, poetry and art history — Kenneth Koch, Wallace Gray, Leo Steinberg, Johanna Drucker — were also influential in my development. I remember my Music Hum teacher, Kitty Brazelton GSAS’94, who took us to a jazz club in the Village. Going to Columbia is an education in every sense; a time to discover yourself, the world and New York City.

Sean Duffy ’06
Spirit of Creativity and Innovation Award (San Francisco)

At Omada Health, where I work, I live in a world of combining disciplines. My morning is recruiting AI talent to join our mission. My afternoon is getting smarter on Medicare Advantage updates in partnership with our policy team. Reflecting on my College education, it hits me that the breadth of the Core Curriculum set me up — and sets all College students up — to be laterally curious and to build connections among different disciplines. We live in a world of massive convergence; lateral curiosity and perspective is an important asset for tomorrow’s contributions.

I stay connected to the College through people and settings. On the people front, it’s about staying in touch with close friends from my undergraduate studies, while forgiving myself and knowing it’s impossible to reach everyone. On the settings front, I’m pulled to NYC frequently. One of my favorite things to do is pop up to campus and simply walk around.