Richard Bonilla, Oldest Living LatinX IR Alumnus, Gives Interview in IR Department

Richard Bonilla, 97, spoke with Chair Ellis in an interview this October about his experiences at San Francisco State University and beyond. He is the oldest living alumnus of the International Relations Department at SFSU, and graduated when the program was brand new.
Bonilla moved to the United States in 1945 and attended San Francisco State University in the 1950s. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 1958. His career includes peacekeeping and procurement work for the United Nations, consulting work for the World Intellectual Properties Organization, as well as numerous work assignments in India, Switzerland, Nigeria, and beyond. He says that his IR degree was helpful in navigating each of these positions, lending him a useful perspective.

In his interview with Chair Ellis, he said that students today have a chance to make a living and a difference in an entirely new world than the one he entered when he began his career. He encourages them to apply their skills. "Don't be afraid of taking a chance. Go for it! I envy you... Be happy, be successful, be proud of being San Francisco [State University] students."

Regarding LatinX students in particular, he says "Being Latino, it wasn't easy, but we opened doors [for you], so don't let us down."

We thank Mr. Bonilla for his insight and for his time in this interview. To watch the interview in full, visit his page in our Alumni section at https://internationalrelations.sfsu.edu/people/richard-bonilla .