Dean of Academics, Alexis Mamaux, Publishes Textbook

Alexis Mamaux, Dean of Academics at UWC-USA, recently published a textbook focused on the Cold War for Oxford University Press.  Oxford AQA History for A Level: The Cold War 1945-1991 Revision Guide is one of several books Alexis has published in recent years showcasing her deep subject knowledge and teaching experience. The book provides exam practice strategies, example student answers, and contents checklists to help students prepare for exams.

Founding President of UWC-USA Passes at Age 94

A gentleman, educator and visionary, founding United World College-USA President Theodore “Ted” Lockwood was committed to building a community that shared the passion to make a difference.

Lockwood, who served as president at UWC-USA from 1982-1993, passed away Monday, Jan. 21, at his home in Stowe, Vt. He was 94.

Shirleen Lanham, who has taught math at UWC-USA for 30 years, described Lockwood as learned, gracious and eloquent, and committed to the education of young adults based on firmly held philosophical and moral principles.

“He connected with the students, thoroughly enjoying interacting with them through discussion and through shared experience,” Lanham said. “He went on expeditions with them, ‘hung out’ with them after meals in the cafeteria, saw every bus off after graduation to say farewell, and read every student’s report, adding a comment of his own.”

Lockwood’s successor Dr. Phil Geier noted that Lockwood and his wife, Lu, laid the foundation for UWC-USA that Geier and his wife, Amy, were privileged to build on.

“Ted’s rare combination of academic accomplishments and outdoor interests brought just the right spirit to Montezuma, as did the outstanding faculty and staff he hired, influencing many years of UWC students,” Geier said. “We will be forever grateful for Ted and Lu’s leadership and dedication as they established the UWC movement’s only campus in the United States.”

Lockwood was born on Dec. 5, 1924, in Hanover, N.H. He attended private school in Lake Placid, N.Y., and graduated as valedictorian from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., in 1948. Lockwood earned his master’s and doctorate from Princeton University.

He taught at Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Juniata College in Huntingdon, Penn., before becoming dean of faculty at Concord College in Athens, W.Va, and provost and dean of faculty at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.

Lockwood was named president of Trinity College in 1967. He helped transform the all-men’s school into a coeducational institution during his second year in office. Today, women make up 50 percent of the student body.

Lockwood wrote a book about being involved with the founding UWC-USA and working on that undertaking with philanthropist, Armand Hammer. UWC-USA is one of 17 high schools around the world, with a mission that education can serve as a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Titled “Dreams & Promises: The Story of the Armand Hammer United World College,” the book focuses on the personalities involved, the international perspective and glimpses of all these people. It also offers an inspiration to a public hoping for better educational opportunities.

President of UWC-USA since July 2016, Victoria Mora noted she didn’t have the opportunity to meet Lockwood due to his health issues.

“I was privileged to get to know him through his book,” Mora said.  “Founding a school is no easy task. Add the big personality of Armand Hammer, combined with the complexities of a worldwide educational movement, and you really do have the makings of a book!”

She added that Lockwood was the right leader at the right time, and he couldn’t have been luckier to have his beloved wife Lu at his side, bringing the Montezuma campus to life.

“All of us at UWC-USA, and across the movement, owe Dr. Lockwood a debt of gratitude,” Mora said. “We wish his family peace in this time of loss.”

Lockwood in 1992 hired Ravi Parashar, who continues to teach economics at UWC-USA. Parashar was surprised when Lockwood met Parashar in Santa Fe to drive him to Montezuma.

“But that was him,” Parashar said. “Unassuming and chipping in to help whenever and wherever needed. He had an impressive presence and yet was so humble, possessing a spontaneous old world charm that immediately made you like him and feel comfortable with him as could be observed in any meeting that he attended.”

Lockwood is survived by his wife; daughters from his first marriage, Tamara Jane Quinn, Mavis Ferens Lockwood and Serena Katherine Lockwood; and stepsons Nicholas Abbot and Michael Abbot.

A memorial service is scheduled for 12 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, Feb. 9, at St. John’s in the Mountains, an Episcopal Church in Stowe. Lu Lockwood, who had been married to Ted for 38 years, asks that memorial contributions be made to the United World College-USA.

“Montezuma was the closest thing to Ted’s heart,” she said.

To make a contribution, go to www.uwc-usa.org/give. Make checks payable to UWC-USA and mail to UWC-USA Advancement Office, 4 Campus Drive, P.O. Box 248, Montezuma, NM, 87731-0248.

Friends and alumni are also encouraged to share memories of Ted’s generosity and kindness by following this link.

Ndaba Mandela to Speak at UWC-USA’s Annual Conference

The grandson of Nelson Mandela will attend the 2019 Annual Conference at the United World College-USA, which will be held from Thursday, Feb. 21, to Saturday, Feb. 23, on the Montezuma campus.

Ndaba Mandela is an author, speaker and entrepreneur. His book, “Going to the Mountain: Life Lessons from My Grandfather, Nelson Mandela” has received wide accolades. Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who served as his country’s president from 1994 to 1999.  Alongside Queen Noor of Jordan, Nelson Mandela for four years was joint president for the UWC movement, which has 17 international high schools around the world. He was named honorary president in 1999.

Ndaba Nelson is the co-founder and co-chairman of Africa Rising Foundation, a non-profit committed to publicizing the positive image of Africa through publications, films, media, and social interaction. He is also the founder of the Mandela Project and was part of the team for the Mandela Centenary in 2018. He is a member of the Pan-African Youth Council, which works closely with the African Union and was the executive director for UN AIDS, a non-profit that campaigns to end the stigma of AIDS. Both of his parents died from the disease.

UWC alumni will speak, including Andrew Nalani, a Dartmouth graduate from Uganda and recipient of the Churchill Freshman Prize and the Ranny B. Cardazo Jr. 1978 Award.

Free and open to the public, the conference will bring together high school students from more than 10 schools in the region. It will consist of workshops, activities and speakers focusing on different aspects and experiences related to the theme of migration and belonging.

The conference is sponsored by The Bartos Institute for Constructive Engagement of Conflict, which aims to advance the skills of peacemaking and conflict resolution. Registration for the conference is now open.

New UWC-USA Retirement Plan Mirrors UWC Values

UWC-USA, in partnership with TIAA and Longview Asset Management in Santa Fe, recently launched a retirement savings plan with a particular focus on investments that mirror UWC values.

“Our mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future,” said Dr. Victoria J. Mora. “It is in line with our values to create a plan that considers positive social outcomes while helping our faculty and staff prepare for a secure retirement.”

The new plan made waves in the world of education and retirement planning and was featured in a number of journals dedicated to financial planning.

TEDx UWC-USA

UWC-USA will host its first ever TEDx event in November featuring nationally acclaimed and student speakers. Organized under the theme FORWARD, the event seeks to address problems and issues that impede forward progress. Internationally recognized journalist, David Barsamian, will speak on the media and the challenges it faces in an ever-changing world. Best known for his collaborations with Noam Chomsky, Barsamian brings over fifty years of experience and advocacy to bear on his topic. Other speakers include Kristina Yu, a professor of architecture from the University of New Mexico, who will be addressing the power of imagination and design. TEDx UWC-USA will also feature seven student speakers from highly diverse backgrounds who will share their perspectives on topics ranging from cultural appropriation to a “zero waste lifestyle.”

Sponsored by UWC-USA’s Bartos Institute for the Constructive Engagement of Conflict, this event has been organized to a very high degree by students. Franziska Balzer ’19 is excited to see the program come together and feels it reflects the UWC mission. “While UWCers typically want to get right to the action part of making the world a better place and solving problems, the speakers and topics we’ve lined up will help us move forward more deliberately and thoughtfully.”

This event is free and open to the public and will be streamed live via Facebook

When: November 17 from 1:00 – 6:00 pm (intermission from 2:50 – 3:30 pm)

Where: Kluge Auditorium on the UWC-USA campus

Andrew Nalani Speaks at Goalkeepers

Andrew Nalani ’12 recently recounted his educational journey from Uganda to present day at Goalkeepers, a forum hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in connection with the UN General Assembly. Andrew spoke about how his understanding of education changed fundamentally as a result of his UWC experience. “I was invited to ask my own questions and to imagine my own answers for the first time,” Andrew said from the stage at Goalkeepers. The focus of the forum was exploring concrete ways to meet the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development and Andrew was asked to speak as a leader in the field of education. Andrew is currently a Doctoral Fellow in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. His pitch to the thought leaders from around the world was pretty simple in the end: “If we can get each young person on this planet access to a transformative education, we will leave this world a much better place.” You can watch Andrew’s presentation here.

 

Ellen Thompson – Math Resource

UWC-USA math teacher Ellen Thompson has co-written a book that focuses on the new International Baccalaureate math syllabus, which will be taught starting in the fall of 2019.

Oxford University Press approached Ellen about helping with the book, which is entitled “Oxford IB Diploma Programme: IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, Standard Level, Print and Enhanced Online Course Book Pack.”

Ellen was joined by five IB math teachers from around the world. She began working on the book’s first two chapters in January 2018. The target release date for the book is February 2019.

Ellen, who also teaches French Ab Initio at UWC-USA, spent 21 years teaching the IB in schools in her native Canada. This is her third year at UWC-USA.