UWC International is pleased to announce new important appointments in the leadership teams of UWC Dilijan, UWC-USA and UWC Atlantic College.

Denise Davidson will be the Head of UWC Dilijan in Armenia for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic year, starting on 1 July 2016. Denise brings nearly forty years of experience working in education within the UK and at an international level. She was Head of Gateways School in Leeds, Great Britain, for 12 years, as well as Deputy Head of Mount St Mary’s School near Sheffield and Senior Mistress of Oundle Public School. When asked why she has chosen to take on this position within UWC, Denise said: "This is much more than taking on another school, it is also more than leading another United World College, important though that will be. It is the scope of the whole venture where a school serves the wider community, helping not only bring the world to Armenia but also Armenia to grow into the world. It is this huge vision that I find so exciting and that is the reason why I am both delighted to take up this role and grateful for the opportunities it offers". Veronika Zonabend, Co-founder and Chair of the Board of Governors of the UWC Dilijan, welcomed Denise at the college while looking at the future of UWC Dilijan: “UWC Dilijan has accomplished its first stage of development which was focused more on the creation of the school itself, setting the academic standards, and laying the foundation for its traditions. Now it enters its next stage of development where its new goals are closer integration into the UWC movement, as it becomes a centre of educational excellence in Armenia. We appreciate Denise’s understanding of the broader concept of the UWCD and her support across the entire range of educational projects of the Scholae Mundi Foundation”. Denise will replace the Founding Head of college John Puddefoot. You can learn more here.

The board of trustees of UWC-USA has appointed New Mexico native Victoria Mora as the fifth president of UWC-USA. Victoria will begin her tenure on 1 August 2016, succeeding Mukul Kumar, who stepped down from his role earlier this year. Currently the senior vice-president for development and alumni relations at St. John’s College in Sante Fe, Victoria is a parent of a UWC-USA alumna and has been involved in the school’s activities for many years. Mora appreciates how the UWC mission drives the work of everyone involved with UWC-USA and its fourteen sister schools spanning the globe: “UWC has been a trailblazer in international education. It commits daily, on 15 different campuses across the globe, to a singular, inspirational idea: that bringing together individuals from across the planet's diverse cultures and nations to share a formative educational experience is the best hope for peace and a sustainable future”. UWC-USA Board Chair Steve Dichter expressed his appreciation for Victoria’s entrance into the college and the wider UWC movement: “Victoria brings so much to our movement and school as a teacher, fundraiser, and administrator. Her vision and skill will be critical as we begin our next long-range plan”.

You can learn more here.

Finally, Peter Howe was appointed to the role of Principal of UWC Atlantic College in Great Britain, effective 1 March 2017. Peter will build on the great work of John Walmsley, current Principal of the college, who decided to leave at the end of December 2016. Peter is a well known and experienced Head within the UWC movement. He is currently the Head of UWC Maastricht, in the Netherlands, which he joined after spending seven years at UWC Adriatic in Italy, four of which as the Head of the college. In the course of five years at UWC Maastricht, Peter has managed a student body of approximately 850 students, in a school that has grown by more than 40% since 2012. Commenting on his appointment as Principal of UWC Atlantic College, he says: “After 5 memorable years at UWC Maastricht, I have been offered the wonderful opportunity to become the Principal at UWC Atlantic College, the original UWC and the flagship of the movement. It is an honour to build on the impressive work of John Walmsley”. And John Walmsley himself added: “As a fellow UWC Head, I have known of Peter’s excellent work at both Adriatic and Maastricht. With Peter taking on the role of Principal, UWC Atlantic College can look forward to an exciting future at this important time in its distinguished history”.

You can learn more here.

The UWC community is delighted to welcome Denise and Victoria and to see Peter staying part of UWC within a new role. We wish them all the best for their important tasks ahead.