BERKELEY WELCOMES BACHELET: The Chilean Path to Progressive Change

Michelle Bachelet reflects on her time in office as president of Chile and on the challenges facing Latin America’s young democracies.

Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet spent six eventful days at UC Berkeley in early May, just two months after leaving office. During her time in the Bay Area, she met with geologists at the Berkeley Seismological Lab, doctors at UC San Francisco Medical Center, Chilean students attending UC Berkeley, and immigrant high school students at Oakland’s International School, in addition to giving a sold-out public address. Everywhere she went, President Bachelet impressed those she met with her warmth, humor, and intelligence. The following article is based on her public address.