 Advocating
for holders of Russian bonds and analyzing Argentinean trade balances
are the stuff of Robert Koenigsberger’s, ’87, workdays.
A UCSD graduate in Latin American history and politics, Koenigsberger
earned an M.A.
in international studies at University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A.
at Penn’s Wharton School. Today he runs Gramercy Advisors,
trading in the rollercoaster world of emerging market bonds. He recently
provided a gift to establish the Robert S. Koenigsberger Chancellor’s
Fellowship for the study of developing countries in UCSD’s
Division of Social Sciences. Chancellor’s Fellowships provide
significant financial support to graduate students, as well as confer
a singular honor that will ultimately advance their careers.
Was there a “eureka!” moment at UCSD that channeled
you toward the life you’re leading now?
I came into UCSD as a declared major in Management Science, but
I took a class on Mexican History with Ramon Ruiz and really enjoyed
it. Then I took a couple of Latin American Political Science courses
with Paul Drake and never looked back.
What was your motivation to provide a
gift to UCSD’s Division
of Social Sciences?
First, I believe the value of the education we received at UCSD
is unbeatable. I also believe the Latin American studies that I
was exposed to at UCSD were more rigorous and informative than
most of the courses I took at the graduate level. I look at my
contribution as not merely a gift but rather an investment in the
program.
Why a graduate student fellowship?
I wanted to ensure that the Division of Social Sciences could continue
to attract the best graduate talent possible. I chose to specify
developing countries in an effort to encourage and support UCSD’s
leadership role in this area, and because I also want to contribute
to the countries where Gramercy does business.
What’s next for you?
I’m quite happy growing and managing the business that we’ve
built here at Gramercy. We are proactively investing in sovereign
and corporate debt obligations from all around the world. It’s
a lot of fun.
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