Dana Dahl Touzelet ’81: Switzerland
Hometown: Lake Forest, Illinois (though we lived all over the U.S. when I was growing up).
Current location: For 16 years in the commune of Châtel-Saint-Denis in Canton Fribourg, Switzerland.
Why Switzerland: I met my French husband on a business trip to London in the late 1990s and we married in 2000. We moved back to the States the following year, but a great job opportunity brought him to Switzerland in early spring 2007, and I followed.
Career: I retired in 2022 after 14+ years of service from Edwards Lifesciences (an American medical device manufacturer) as the vice president of global ethics and compliance. I was responsible for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Canada, and Latin America. I provided near-daily strategic and instructional guidance to ensure the program operated in accordance with ethical business practices, company policies, and legal and regulatory requirements.
Cornell impact: Cornell taught me to welcome surprises and embrace change (the block plan was instituted at the start of my sophomore year). Also, the experience of spending the better part of a month in England with Professors Stephen Lacey and Liz Isaacs in January 1981 triggered a huge curiosity about exploring other countries and cultures. I went on to do graduate legal studies at the London School of Economics after finishing law school at Drake University, to live in France for 15 months, and am now firmly rooted in Switzerland!
Benefits of living in a different culture: The gifts it has bestowed upon me are broadened horizons, adaptability, and elimination of prejudice or fear of others who aren’t like you. I’ve learned to be flexible and willing to accept that I might not always be right or have the best ideas about how to do certain things.
What would you tell students: Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Fear is an intractable thing that holds so many people back—not only from reaching their professional potential but also from being willing to explore and experience new and different things. It’s a great, big world. Banish fear and embrace adventure and learning—in my opinion, you risk missing out on an awful lot if you don’t.
➤ Meet seven more international alumni
