Rodrigo Sierra ’96 Receives SPS Alumni Award

October 7, 2022 -- Congratulations to the 2022 SPS Alumni Award recipient Rodrigo A. Sierra, BPhil ’96 , MBA ’08. The award recognizes Rodrigo’s meaningful accomplishments and positive influence across healthcare, equity, and education.

Throughout his distinctive and award-winning career, Rodrigo has been instrumental in achieving meaningful results in high-profile corporate, media, government, and regulatory positions. Today, he is the Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President at the American Medical Association (AMA).

“Our team has been following Rodrigo’s remarkable work at the AMA, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are impressed by his leadership in crisis management and driving innovation across public and private sectors,” said Thomas Gibbons, Dean of Northwestern SPS.

Rodrigo was presented with the inaugural award by Dean Gibbons, as part of the closing keynote during the 11th annual SPS Symposium. Northwestern SPS students, alumni, faculty, and staff, and Rodrigo’s wife were in attendance.

The SPS Alumni Award is a part of the Northwestern University tradition to honor exemplary alums who demonstrates leadership, community stewardship, and career impact. “Rodrigo serves as an inspiration for our Northwestern SPS community," said Dean Gibbons.

Rodrigo received a bachelor's degree in 1996 from the School of Professional Studies and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in 2008. He was also a speaker at the Northwestern SPS Convocation ceremony in 2014.

"I'm proud to be alum. I'll come back whenever you ask me to, and maybe even when you don't ask me to,” Rodrigo joked as he held up his award.