U.S. National Committee
UWC-USA works closely with the U.S. National Committee to select students to represent the United States as Davis Scholars at UWCs around the world. This dedicated and talented group of volunteers meets every month to discuss issues related to the UWC movement and to shape the application process.
The U.S. National Committee evaluates applications and supporting documents from several hundred student applicants. National Committee members conduct online in-person interviews with about 150 semi-finalists in the late fall and winter; in February, they meet on campus in New Mexico to observe students in small-group activities and conversations at Finalist Weekend. Their commitment is a demonstration of their enthusiasm for the UWC mission.
U.S. National Committee members can be alumni of any UWC campus who are residing in the United States, or professionals working in the college admission field, either for a college or university or a school. Anyone interested in serving for a three-year term may submit an application for an initial one-year role as Guest Reader. Applications for the 2025-26 cycle are due on July 14; those selected as Guest Readers will begin working with the Selection Committee in October. Please contact admission@uwc-usa.org with questions.
“The optimism, energy, and conviction that prospective UWC students convey in their applications reassures me that our world will be in good hands as they continue to develop their talents and interests across the spectrum of human endeavor as future artists, scientists, policy makers, and citizens of the world.”
Alex Segura
Alex Segura
Alex Segura is Associate Director of College Counseling at Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has served as a college counselor at independent schools for a combined 25 years, which along with his time at CLS includes Cannon School (NC) and Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL).
Alex began his career as an admission counselor at Tusculum College (TN), before moving on to the undergraduate admission office at the University of Miami (FL). Alex earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Carson-Newman College (now University), and a Master’s degree in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University (AL).
Alex is also the proud parent of a UWC alumna. His daughter attended UWC-Mostar and currently is enrolled at Macalester College, which is a Davis Scholars Partner School.
Bev Morse
Bev Morse
Bev Morse recently retired as associate dean for research and information management and director of international admissions at Kenyon College in Gambier. Prior to Kenyon, she was the assistant director of admissions at Oberlin College, also in Ohio. Bev studied music, mathematics and psychology at Wilson College, Hartt School of Music, Yale University, and City University of New York.
Her experience as a foreign exchange student to Finland broadened her outlook on the world. Bev’s appreciation of the UWC movement stems from her work in admissions, which allowed her to visit nine UWC campuses repeatedly, interview hundreds of UWC students, and befriend those who chose to attend Kenyon College.
Carla Bass
UWC-USA '87
Carla Bass
UWC-USA '87A 1987 UWC-USA graduate, Carla went to college in her hometown of Lima, Peru. She chaired the UWC alumni network and worked with the Peruvian National Committee, promoting outreach efforts and fundraising.
Carla is founder and president of Communication Solutions, a translation and interpreting services company in Lima.
A UWC enthusiast, she believes that now, more than ever, the world needs people who believe in peace and international understanding and for whom acceptance and respect are life-guiding values. At UWC, Carla made lifelong friends who are an important part of who she is. Carla wants more young people to enjoy this unique opportunity and make the world a better place by living and sharing the UWC values.
She and her husband and twin daughters live in Texas.
Dr. Celene Ibrahim
UWC-USA '02
Dr. Celene Ibrahim
UWC-USA '02Dr. Celene Ibrahim ‘02 teaches in the department of religious studies and philosophy at Groton School. Celene is a public voice on issues of religious pluralism and has written numerous publications in the field of women’s and gender studies, religion in America and Islamic studies. She is the editor of One Nation Indivisible: Seeking Liberty and Justice from the Pulpit to the Streets, and her second book is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.
Celene has a bachelor’s with highest honors from Princeton University, a master’s of divinity from Harvard University and a doctorate in Arabic and Islamic civilizations from Brandeis University. She is a frequent speaker and a diversity consultant to educational and civic institutions. Celene is passionate about multicultural education and sees the UWC movement as a pathsetter in exposing young minds to a wider world.
Gavin Powell
UWC Costa Rica '15
Gavin Powell
UWC Costa Rica '15As a 2015 graduate of UWC Costa Rica, Gavin Powell is grateful to serve the movement that granted him a life changing experience. He is excited to join the UWC Selection Committee, and assist in guiding tomorrow’s leaders through the next step in their educational journey.
Harry Lambert
UWC-USA '12
Harry Lambert
UWC-USA '12A 2012 graduate of UWC-USA, Harry Lambert is an investigator with the NYU Vaccine Center and studying at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York. Prior to that, Harry worked in community development, managing a portfolio of development projects for a local company in Tanzania.
Born in the United Kingdom, Harry grew up in Raleigh, N.C. He has a bachelor’s in leadership studies and philosophy, politics, economics and law from the University of Richmond.
While a student at UWC-USA, Harry took wilderness first aid as part of his training to be a wilderness leader. This exposure resulted in his desire to enter medicine.
His UWC experience also opened his eyes to many issues in society, while instilling a desire to challenge the status quo and work toward improving the lives of others. Harry is passionate about the potential of medicine to improve humanity and create understanding across peoples, nations and cultures.
He is excited to serve on the U.S. Selection Committee and continue the committee’s work of nominating ambassadors for the United States to UWCs around the globe.
James Austin Whittaker II – Co-chair
UWC Li Po Chun '10
James Austin Whittaker II – Co-chair
UWC Li Po Chun '10A 2010 graduate of Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, James Austin Whittaker II works at the intersection of Analytics, Marketing, and Strategy in the San Francisco Bay Area across Tech sub sectors and Political Campaigns. A certified Product Manager, he holds a BA in International Relations-Political Economy from Brown University and is pursuing the Sustainability Program at UC Berkeley.
Growing up in Memphis, TN, he credits his UWC experience and the movement with expanding his horizons resulting in the further cultivation of the service-oriented spirit and impact initially fostered by his DOAS family and community. He enjoys paying forward this opportunity by helping youth to pursue education, careers, and entrepreneurship in Sustainable Technology.
He is excited to serve on the UWC Selection Committee, and work to expand the opportunities of the UWC movement to even more students.
Jordan Pascucci
Jordan Pascucci
Jordan Pascucci is the undergraduate strategic enrollment leader at the University of Pennsylvania, where she serves as Vice Dean, Director of Admissions. Prior to her role as Director, Jordan oversaw Penn’s evaluation and selection process, global recruitment, and yield operations. In addition to her time at Penn, Jordan has served in secondary school leadership in both a global boarding school environment and at an independent day school. Her varied roles in secondary education and higher education have shaped her perspective on the college admission process. As Director of Admissions, Jordan’s work focuses on defining what it means to be a modern admissions officer and adopting equitable evaluation practices to meet historic application volume. Jordan earned her B.A from Temple University and Master of Liberal Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently enrolled in Wharton’s Executive General Management Program and recently served on the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) committee exploring Transparency in College Admissions.
Justine MacWilliam
UWC-USA '02
Justine MacWilliam
UWC-USA '02A 2002 graduate of UWC-USA, Justine has over 15 years of experience managing global health programs and partnerships across Africa and the Middle East. She currently works in HIV and global health policy advocacy in New York, partnering with a network of health and human rights advocates across Africa and North America to ensure communities most affected by global health inequity have a leading voice in shaping national and global health policies, programs and funding.
Justine holds a B.A. in History from Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany and an M.A. in International Affairs from the New School in New York City, and was a U.S. Dept. of State Critical Language Scholar for Urdu in Lucknow, India.
Growing up, Justine split her time between Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Her UWC experience helped broaden her worldview and ingrained in her a lifelong commitment to social justice and community service. She still keeps in touch daily with the friends she made at UWC.
Keith Todd – Co-chair
Keith Todd – Co-chair
Keith Todd is director of college counseling at the Greenhill School in the Dallas, Texas, area. Prior to that, he spent 20-plus years in selective college admission and international education.
Keith was previously dean of admissions at Reed College and held senior admission roles at Rice and Northwestern universities, having started as an admission officer at Stanford University.
With a focus on international admission, Keith has visited several UWC campuses and evaluated college applications from most UWC campuses. He has served on the international Advisory Board for the TOEFL.
He was a member of the national review committee for the Coca-Cola Scholarships and the editorial board of The Journal of College Admission. In his role with the Institute of International Education , Keith was the director of the U.S. State Department’s Gilman Scholarship Program funding study abroad for lower-income U.S. undergraduates, director of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program for the greater Houston region, and regional director for 300-plus international Fulbright Scholars studying in 11 Southern states.
Keith has a master’s in English literature from Stanford and a bachelor’s in English and German from SMU, studying abroad during college in Austria and the United Kingdom. In 1987 he was a Fulbright Scholar in German literature at the University of Augsburg, Germany.
Mitchell Thompson
Mitchell Thompson
Mitchell Thompson is Dean and College Counselor at Avenues School, New York City. He has worked in education for thirty-five years; most recently as Dean of Students at Scarsdale High School. Prior to that he spent almost seventeen years at The Cooper Union in New York City as an Associate Dean for Admissions and Records as well as the Foreign Student Advisor. Additionally, Mitchell has served on a wide range of boards and organizations such as The Common Application, The College Board, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Mitchell earned his B.A. from the State University of New York at Oneonta and his M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Pem Dem Tobgyel
Pearson College UWC '97
Pem Dem Tobgyel
Pearson College UWC '97Pem Dem Tobgyel ’97 was born and raised in Bhutan, a Himalayan Kingdom. At 17, she attended Pearson United World College, and left her small world behind with a single suitcase, heavy heart, and the fear of the unknown world. Yet a curious open mind filled this young girl with plenty of hope and dreams to look forward to. She not only became the first woman in her family to graduate from college but also the first Software Engineer of the country, and won a full scholarship for MBA at University of Southern California. She has worked as a technology consultant for the University of Toronto, the World Bank, and Deloitte, the largest global professional services firm. Pem is a distinguished advisor helping financial services and technology clients address transformational change to manage risk, respond to changing market conditions, improve performance and control environments.
Pem’s upbringing across three continents has instilled deeply rooted values of diversity and inclusion, service to community, and nurturing of the next generation. She is a mother of two girls and a great showcase of a working mother who finds great integration between work, family and her community!
