Meet Sylvia
I grew up in Puerto Rico, where I was introduced to diverse cultures at an early age. I am an avid traveler, and love broadening my perspectives by interacting with different cultures. I also love trying new foods! My husband is from Switzerland, so you will hear a mix of languages in my home, including Schwyzerdütsch (which I do not speak!) and Spanglish.
After practicing for 6 years with two global law firms, I started working with LL.M. students at the University of Miami School of Law and immediately loved it! It was exciting to support their transition to the U.S. legal system and to help them plan their year and next professional steps. Approximately 6 years later, I joined Columbia Law School, where I ran the LL.M. and J.S.D. programs for nearly 20 years. I am still in close contact with many former students, who regularly reach out for advice, to share their successes, or simply to say hello. I’m always happy to hear from them!
I am a firm believer in education and its power to transform lives, and in the importance of role models. I am actively involved with organizations whose mission is to promote higher education among Hispanic youth in the U.S., and I coach Hispanic college students on the law school application process.
I love being outdoors (in warm weather). If there is a beach nearby, that’s where you’ll find me. If there happens to be a volleyball court on the beach, even better! If not, I might be streaming Scandinavian noir or searching for a new podcast.
That’s a bit about me. I look forward to getting to know you!
What People Are Saying About Sylvia
I met Sylvia at a recruiting event in Buenos Aires and she became my mentor during my LL.M. at Columbia Law School. She always helped me by asking the right questions as she guided me through both academic and career decisions. She is a very warm and smart person who always focuses on giving the best she can to you. I owe Sylvia a great deal for her guidance during my LL.M. experience, and I continue to be in close contact with her ever since. I have told and will tell everyone who asks that she is going to help you a lot by asking the right questions – the answers are always left to you.
— Iván Levy, Argentina, LL.M. 2020
Sylvia is a guide and mentor you want to have by your side when you make some of the most important choices pertaining to your educational growth. Investing in her will catapult your career.
— Applicant, 2022-23 Academic Year
Sylvia's guidance far exceeded my expectations. She encouraged me to explore more deeply why I do the work I do, why I want to pursue the LL.M., and what I want to do after the LL.M. This helped transform my application plan and my essays. I am very excited about next year!