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Ximena Zúñiga, professor of social justice education and Chancellor’s Leadership Fellow, attended several commemorative events held last month at Chilean universities in connection with the 50^th anniversary of the 1973 military coup that overthrew then-president Salvador Allende.

The events, which took place at the University of Santiago’s School of Education and the University of Chile, focused on the traumatic legacy of widespread human rights violations and political repression, “never again” and “we can’t forget” discussions, the role of U.S. intervention, human rights education and education for democracy.

“I was certainly grateful to be asked to support two educational efforts in two public universities at a time of deep political polarization,” Zúñiga said.

At the University of Chile, the country’s first and largest university, Zúñiga consulted with the undergraduate academic vice provost and a group of colleagues in the planning and co-facilitation of a workshop that involved peer educators titled, “Reflections of the Value and Meaning of Democracy in College Preparation and Community Building.” Rosa Deves, the university’s first woman president, also attended the workshop.

More information about Zúñiga’s visit to Chile can be found on the College of Education news website.