We write to share an update on the independent investigation following the passing of Koru Moss, who died by suicide on the campus of UWC-USA on September 7, 2023. Koru’s absence continues to impact our entire community, and we extend our sincerest condolences to their family and friends. Koru possessed a remarkable intellect, deep empathy, and an unwavering commitment to advocating for and serving others. Throughout their short lifetime, Koru worked tirelessly to create a more just and compassionate world. It was universally recognized that their superpower was the ability to make everyone feel genuinely seen and heard.
We are deeply grateful to Koru’s parents, whose advocacy and tireless efforts brought crucial issues to our attention. At their request and with their participation, UWC-USA initiated an external, independent investigation into the facts and circumstances of Koru’s death and of our school’s mental health and wellbeing programs, policies, and procedures. This extensive independent review, which took place over a period of ten months, has provided detailed information regarding the circumstances of Koru’s passing, and valuable insight on identified gaps in UWC-USA’s policies, procedures, and practices regarding student mental health and wellbeing.
As described more fully in the detailed summary, which can be found HERE, the investigation found that although suicide cannot be predicted and in some cases cannot be prevented, there were steps that could and should have been taken to reduce the possibility of or prevent Koru’s death.
Among other things, the investigation found that:
As a boarding school trusted with the care of its students, we recognize that UWC-USA’s top priority must be the physical, social, mental, and emotional health of its students. The School and its leadership regret that we fell unacceptably short of these publicly stated priorities and failed to exercise sufficient oversight both before and in the aftermath of Koru’s death, and we apologize to Koru’s family.
The Board of Trustees acknowledges and regrets that the reporting and oversight structures previously in place were insufficient to prevent this tragedy. The Board is dedicated to making meaningful and lasting changes to ensure that UWC-USA is a truly safe and supportive environment for all students. The Board has recently established a standing Committee on Health and Wellbeing to more actively oversee the School’s efforts to protect and improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of its students and other campus populations. The Board is also formalizing its practice of ensuring that a minimum number of Board members have no preexisting connection to the School upon their commencement of service on the Board. In addition, the Board has made changes to School leadership. Dr. Andrew Mahlstedt has been Interim Head of School since January 2025 and will continue in that role until the Board names a permanent replacement for Dr. Victoria Mora.
We also write to share that we have agreed to a series of changes with the Moss family aimed at honoring Koru and instituting meaningful improvements that will support the School’s ability to protect its students. Beyond the Board’s actions outlined above, the School has retained an independent expert in school safety and adolescent mental health to conduct a comprehensive review of UWC-USA’s practices, policies, and procedures concerning student mental health, wellbeing, and safety, including, but not limited to, suicide prevention, coordination with outside health service providers, and medication management. The expert will make written recommendations, which will be made publicly available on UWC-USA’s website. Finally, the expert will monitor UWC-USA’s progress and the implementation of its recommendations for a period of four years, and issue an annual report of findings, which will be made publicly available on UWC-USA’s website.
While we cannot undo the pain and grief experienced by the Mosses and our community, we are committed to learning from this tragedy. UWC-USA has already taken a number of proactive steps to improve our systems and offerings, redouble our efforts around student wellbeing, and bring a renewed focus on mental health. That includes launching new partnerships with leading mental health organizations and institutions; implementing new policies, protocols, and practices related to suicide prevention, mental wellbeing, medication supervision and administration, and crisis management; and strengthening resources for our community with restructured staff, including new personnel in our mental health counselor roles, and expanded services to ensure a safe school environment. A full description of our progress to date can be found HERE. We will continue to work closely with our community, including Koru’s family, in our efforts to improve.
UWC International did not respond to the Mosses’ outreach after Koru’s death and refused to participate in the investigation and subsequent discussions concerning the findings of the investigation. The School, however, intends to share its learnings and best practices with UWC International and with the other UWC institutions.
The Moss family has asked to share these sentiments with our community:
“Our family is devastated by the loss of our beloved Koru. Since their death, we have worked to honour their memory by advocating for meaningful change — to help make UWC-USA a safer, more responsive environment for its students, one that reflects the care and courage Koru showed to others. We are encouraged that UWC-USA and its Board have committed to making that change, and we sincerely thank everyone who participated in the investigation. We remain disappointed by UWC International’s refusal to engage with us, and we urge staff, families, alumni, and students across all UWC schools to work with their institutions to ensure they have robust, transparent, and effective mental health and safety policies.”
If you have questions for UWC-USA about any of this, please reach out to [email protected]. If you are in crisis or need mental health support, please reach out to Dean of Students Raechel Waters, call the New Mexico Crisis and Access Line at 855-662-7474, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or dial 988. The Moss family also would welcome hearing from members of the UWC-USA community about their memories of Koru. If you would like to reach out to them, please feel free to do so at [email protected].
United World College-USA
P.O. Box 248
Montezuma, NM 87731
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, seek help immediately by calling the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or the New Mexico Crisis Line at 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474), or by texting HOME to 741741
Do you wish to continue?
