AJ Feeney-Ruiz ‘99: Bringing Global Cuisine to the Midwest

When he was growing up, long before he attended UWC-USA, AJ Feeney-Ruiz ‘99 wanted to be a chef. But it wasn’t until he went to college, earned an MBA and a law degree, and worked for years in politics in Indiana that he finally pivoted to making people happy with food. When he left the political arena he traveled, practiced Shaolin Kung Fu for a year in China, and ended up studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and working in French restaurants before moving back to the U.S. in 2020.

Between jobs when the pandemic hit, AJ started making pastries and meals out of his studio apartment in Indianapolis and sharing pictures of the delicacies on Instagram. He developed a following, sold more and more baked goods, and started making a little money. With no real capital, he crowdfunded to purchase and refurbish a food truck (with the help of many of his UWC-USA classmates) and now is the proprietor of Books, Bourbon, & Bacon, a food and bread truck that haunts brewpubs and festivals in and around Indianapolis. 

“We’ve kept our prices the same, even with inflation increasing the cost of our basic ingredients because we want the food experience we create to be accessible to as many people as possible,” AJ said. To that end he deliberately locates the food truck in underserved areas across the city. “We’ve been at Riley’s Children’s Hospital, President Benjamin Harrison’s Home Site, and local schools. I make a point to park in food deserts and underrepresented communities as much as I can along with donating the truck to charities throughout each year.” 

The skills AJ developed at UWC-USA are central to his success. He charts the vision for an enterprise, manages a diverse workforce, and makes partnerships with the establishments where Books, Bourbon, & Bacon parks. But possibly the most compelling impact of a UWC-USA experience, he claims, is a way of thinking and seeing the world. “UWC-USA seems to remap or rewire your brain making you more able to pivot, find and execute on opportunities, and evaluate and take on risk.” 

He plans to add another truck in the near future and feels optimistic about the next steps. “I have hundreds of recipe ideas from all over the world that I can’t wait to bring to Indianapolis.”

Congratulations to the Alumni Impact Award Nominees

The finalists for the 2023 Giulio Regeni Alumni Impact Award this year include three alumni who make a difference in the world daily. Across different professions, all three live the UWC mission as they seek to build a more peaceful world.

Allison West ‘04 works as a legal advocate for people who have been incarcerated or have been victims of human rights abuses. A 2008 graduate of Middlebury College, Allison went on to study law at the University of Galway. She currently serves as a Senior Legal Advisor for the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. 

Emma Tucker ‘85 was recently named as the Editor in Chief of the Wall Street Journal, one of the most storied newspapers in the world. She is the first woman to lead the Wall Street Journal in its history. Previously Emma served as the Editor of The Sunday Times.

Yessika Moreno Rodriguez ’92 began her career as a physician in rural Costa Rica. More recently as Director of Medical Affairs for Pfizer, Yessika was instrumental in bringing the Pfizer Covid vaccine to Mexico. Additionally she provided critical leadership in the distribution of the vaccine throughout Mexico.

Congratulations to all three finalists! The winner will be announced in mid-April.

UWC-USA Announces New Associate Head of School

UWC-USA is pleased to announce that Andrew Mahlstedt will be joining the school in Montezuma this summer as our associate head of school.

Andrew brings a wide range of experiences to bear on this appointment at UWC-USA. He has served on the U.S. Selection Committee, has worked at other UWCs (Mostar and Mahindra), and currently serves as a senior consultant for global national committee development with the UWC International Office.

“I am so pleased to bring Andrew Mahlstedt forward as our Associate Head of School beginning summer 2023,” said UWC-USA President Victoria Mora. “Andrew’s energy, experience, and understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing UWC-USA promise to make him a wonderful addition to the entire community.”

For his part, a new role at UWC-USA feels like a kind of homecoming for Andrew. “I first visited UWC-USA as a researcher for my M.A. in 2003, and then went annually as a member of the U.S. Selection Committee from 2008 to 2013, but it had been ten years since I had been back. The opportunity to meet different groups of faculty and staff, an always-dynamic group of students, to go for a walk out to the farm, and just to step into the Dwan Light Sanctuary and dip in the hot springs on my way out reminded me of why I wanted so much to be a part of UWC-USA again. Everyone was warm and welcoming, but also sharp and challenging — the balance along that edge is critical to mission-driven, aspirational communities.”

We look forward to welcoming Andrew back to Montezuma in June.

Amplifying Voices

Over the past four years, UWC has created a remarkably diverse board featuring leadership that spans continents. The thirteen member UWC International Board, which hires and supports the executive director and provides broad vision and guidance for the movement, is composed of more women than men and is chaired by Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, an activist, educational leader, entrepreneur,  and human rights advocate from Kenya. 

The vice-chair of the UWC International Board is our own Victoria Mora.

“I have the privilege to work with our international board chair, Musimbi Kanyoro, in service of her vision for full, inclusive partnership across the movement,” Victoria said. “Musimbi is an extraordinary leader. I’ve never worked with anyone quite like her. Her commitment to diversity and its power goes beyond rhetoric; she’s after the best by bringing out the best in all of us. I think we share that in common. We want as many voices as possible at the table, and we believe our direction and decisions will be better for it.”

As a movement that spans four continents, 18 schools, and over 150 National Committees, UWC provides a big tent for diverse opinions and perspectives in a truly global community. It’s a place for outstanding leaders with a commitment to diversity to put the tenets of the UWC mission into action. 

Musimbi contends that Victoria is one of those leaders. “Victoria is always ready to bring to the surface things that people are afraid to address,” Musimbi said. “She also amplifies voices of those who are by nature less aggressive and may be overlooked or their contributions appropriated by others.” She believes that this quality of amplifying the voices of others is what will help strengthen the entire UWC movement in the years ahead. 

Returning to Montezuma: Kimi Jackson ’92

Kimi Jackson ‘92 recently began her tenure as UWC-USA’s Associate Head for Finance and Operations. In her new role Kimi will oversee the school’s operations, including the business office, HR, IT, security, facilities, and our food service contract. She will also lead key elements of the school’s strategic plan, including major sustainability initiatives around energy, food, water, and campus infrastructure–all while keeping the financial foundation of the school sound and sustainable.

For the past eight years Kimi has been the director of the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) in Harlingen, Texas. Supervising a staff of nearly 200 attorneys and other staff, ProBar works with minors and adults who have been detained on the southern border to help them access the U.S. immigration system.

“For me, UWC-USA is where my desire to be a force for good in the world was sparked,” Kimi said, “and that desire to live the UWC mission has continued to this day. I am looking forward to applying my skills and experience to the challenges that currently face the school, and to be part of its journey into the coming decades. I am looking forward to returning to a community that was pivotal in my life and which I hold very dear.”

Steve Dichter: “These Kids Give Me Hope for the World”

After thirteen years serving as a member of UWC-USA’s board of trustees, Steve Dichter of Santa Fe, NM will retire from his service on the UWC-USA board. A business consultant with clients around the world, he has served as chair of UWC-USA’s board since 2014. Dichter earned the respect of the entire UWC-USA community as he led the school through leadership transitions and numerous external challenges. His leadership was marked by clear strategic thinking, cheerfulness to match a sharp wit, and dedication to the mission and students that drive the school. 

He is also known for a variety of aphorisms that helped shape conversations throughout his tenure as board chair. “No work wasted” and “We make our own luck” are two of “Dichter’s Dictums” that he routinely shared with new board members and the school’s leadership during meetings and trainings. Steve helped UWC-USA “make our own luck” through deep analysis, aligned strategy, and the ability to pivot quickly as opportunities and challenges arose. He led through challenging leadership transitions, a global pandemic, and fires that threatened the school. Through it all he kept his eye on what is possible for UWC-USA, recognizing the importance of the only U.S. campus of the United World College (with 18 campuses worldwide) being located right here in Northern New Mexico.

UWC-USA President Victoria J. Mora will miss his leadership, though the friendship will continue: “I can’t speak highly enough of Steve’s leadership. He saw the Board and the school through multiple challenges for more years than we should have asked of him. Through it all, he was a steady presence, gracious and tireless in his work on behalf of UWC-USA. For me, he has been a wonderful thought partner and support, reminding me always that by putting people and excellence first we ‘make our own luck.’ 

Steve’s generosity to the school–time, talent, and treasure–has been exemplary and I onced asked him why he did it. After all, he’s not an alum. He doesn’t live in Montezuma or Las Vegas. And he had a full time job that took him all over the globe while he was chair. Like the man and his leadership, his answer was understated and inspiring: ‘These kids give me hope for the world.’ Steve’s leadership demonstrated this hope at every turn. We are grateful to count him among our greatest contributors, and our most stalwart friends.” 

Aly Kassam-Remtulla ‘94 follows Steve in the role of board chair. He is the first alumnus of UWC-USA to serve in the role. A Rhodes Scholar, Aly earned his PhD from the University of Oxford. He is currently the vice provost for international affairs and operations at Princeton University.

Jonathan Zhang ‘19 Earns Prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship

Jonathan Zhang ‘19, who is currently completing his undergraduate degree at Harvard in Computer Science and Social Studies, has received a prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship to study at Tsinghua University in China next year. Similar to recipients of Rhodes Scholarships, Schwarzman Scholars receive a fully funded experience abroad that leads to a master’s in global affairs.

Jonathan will be a member of a cohort of 150 other fellows next year. While at Tsinghua he hopes to continue his study of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative on Saudi Arabian geopolitical and socio economic development in relation to Vision 2030. However he also has personal reasons to continue his studies in China.

“I have not been back to China in almost 10 years after studying abroad at my mother’s middle school in Beijing when I was 12 years old,” Jonathan said. “During that time, I was able to better connect with my roots and deepen my relationship with my extended family abroad. I also felt really connected to my Chinese peers at UWC-USA and keep in touch with them to this day.”

Jonathan feels that his UWC-USA experience helped prepare him for Harvard and he hopes that his year as a Schwarzman Fellow will capture some of the magic of a UWC experience. “The Schwarzman scholarship’s 8th cohort has students from over 36 countries,” he continued. “With the international residential experience from UWC-USA, as well as having done the Constructive Engagement of Conflict (CEC) series and becoming a leader during my time at UWC, I’m looking forward to being part of a close-knit international community of people working together again.” 

Embracing a Sacred Wholeness: Virginia Dwan and The Dwan Light Sanctuary

The entire UWC-USA community was saddened this fall with news of the passing of Virginia Dwan whose vision and philanthropy have had a lasting impact on the school and the Las Vegas community. Former UWC-USA President Phil Geier, who first met Virginia Dwan and introduced her to the UWC-USA community, reflected on the ways she changed the school. Virginia, he recently shared, was a visionary whose own worldview resonated deeply with the UWC mission which led to the creation of “a space that elevates us to embrace a sacred wholeness to our otherwise splintered and chaotic world.”

While thousands of local visitors enjoy the Dwan Light Sanctuary each year, people also come from around the country and the world to experience the dancing prisms and light. Susan Dulaney, head coach of the Westminster College volleyball team brought her athletes to the Dwan Light Sanctuary earlier this year while in Las Vegas competing against the NMHU team from their home in Utah. “I always try to find something interesting and cultural for my athletes to do wherever we go. It was a quick visit but a great opportunity to see an amazing building and learn a little about a remarkable school.”

Greg Konsor, an art gallery owner and parent of a recent alumnus, reflected recently on his first impressions of the Dwan Light Sanctuary. “When you first walk in you feel a warm and inviting light. I’m amazed how the experience in the Dwan Light Sanctuary changes throughout the day even as the sun moves a little bit.” And beyond the first impressions, visitors who come to the Dwan Light Sanctuary repeatedly share that they find it more compelling upon each visit.

A gallery owner, philanthropist, and supporter of artistic innovation, Virginia Dwan’s career spanned nearly seven decades. She was a champion of “Land Art,” an artistic movement that made use of land – sometimes on a very large scale. One of the artists she supported is Charles Ross, whose Star Axis is still being built in remote New Mexico. Ross notably was also a collaborator on the Dwan Light Sanctuary that features his Prism / Solar Spectrum Artwork. Her family and friends have indicated that she was most proud of two singular accomplishments in her life: donating much of her art collection to the National Gallery of Art and the building of the Dwan Light Sanctuary.

According to Geier, the building provides countless opportunities for visitors to reflect, grow, and build community. “The Dwan Light Sanctuary provides a quiet refuge from the bewildering challenges of our time, a place where each of us can listen to our inner voices, and a space where our rational minds and imaginative hearts can flow together.” But it is in the resonance with the UWC mission that Geier feels the Dwan Light Sanctuary most supports the school and local community. An experience at the Dwan Light Sanctuary creates “a space where we can gain a glimpse of other ways of knowing and which invites communities of difference to come together seeking some common vision — a perfect synergy with the UWC mission.”

It was Virginia Dwan’s express wish that the Dwan Light Sanctuary remain open to the public. Visitors can access the building by stopping at the Welcome Center on the UWC-USA campus to get a fob for entry. It is open from dawn until dusk every day of the year.

Beyond Conflict: Alumni Speaker Series

The UWC Day theme for 2022, Peace Begins with Us, challenged the UWC community to explore how we can promote peace in our own communities and around the world. But when conflict inevitably erupts, as a UWC movement and as individuals, we sometimes become unsure how to respond. 

Our next UWC-USA Alumni Speaker Series event will explore the causes of conflict as well as ways the UWC movement and mission call us to respond. The panel includes alumni who have explored conflict from a variety of perspectives and who will participate in a wide-ranging discussion moderated by UWC-USA’s president, Victoria Mora. There will be an opportunity for questions after the discussion.

In addition to Victoria Mora, the panelists include

Emilia Ramírez Valenzuela ‘02 has studied violence, youth, and transnational migration in academic settings and has gone on to work for a number of NGOs serving the needs of youth in Mexico.

Arianne (Ari) Zwartjes ‘97 was the director of the Wilderness program at UWC-USA for several years. She is a teacher of writing at Sierra Nevada College and has recently published a book, These Dark Skies (Univ of Iowa Press), about the nature of conflict.

Gert Skoczowsky-Danielsen ‘96 has worked for the UN for ten years in four continents, in aid effectiveness, democratic governance and in managing volunteers in Latin America and the Caribbean, and is a mediator and a trainer in Nonviolent Communication. In 2012 he was kidnapped and held captive for 12 days in Yemen.

Please join us for a one hour virtual conversation on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 7:00 pm Mountain Time. This online event is open to alumni and all friends of the school.

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Gene Garcia – One of Our Heroes

Eugene Garcia serves as UWC-USA’s head of security. More importantly, over the last two weeks he has been the incident commander for the UWC-USA wildfire command team. He has provided leadership for our school, supervised the evacuation, and has been the liaison with state and local fire officials – and he has also evacuated from his own property north of Montezuma.

Gene owns 45 acres in El Oro, NM which has been threatened by the Calf Canyon Fire since late April. With a background in law enforcement, Gene gets updates on his property from friends who are firefighters. He has heard that the fire has come within about a half a mile of his home. The area is under a mandatory evacuation order and he was able to evacuate along with his chickens and goats safely.

He is still deeply concerned that the buildings may not survive the next few days as the wind continues to shift direction almost daily.

At this point there are no more measures he can take to save his property and he understands that his buildings may be a total loss.  Coming to work every day, supporting the students and staff, and working with local fire officials has been helpful for Gene – it keeps him from dwelling on concerns for his ranch.

The entire community is deeply grateful to Gene for his dedication to the school and our students.