Profiles
Shelby Davis
Shelby M.C. Davis was the founder of Davis Advisors, a mutual fund management company. Since retiring from running Davis Advisors, Mr. Davis has become a major philanthropist. With veteran international educator Phil Geier, Mr. Davis founded the Davis United World College Scholars Program in the year 2000. The program has since grown to become the world's largest international scholarship program in the world.
Philip Geier
Phil Geier is a leader in international education and currently serves as Executive Director of the Davis United World College Scholars Program, the world’s largest privately funded international scholarship program for undergraduates. He developed and runs the Projects for Peace initiative begun in 2007. He is also an independent consultant specializing in strategic innovation for education as well as transformative philanthropy.
Joseph Kaifala '08
Joseph Ben Kaifala, Esq. is founder of the Jeneba Project Inc. and co-founder of the Sierra Leone Memory Project. He is a human rights activist, a Rastafarian, a votary of ahimsa, and speaks six languages. Joseph was one of the first UWC graduates to attend Skidmore with Davis scholarship support.
Abd-Alrahman Al-Asaad (Abude) ’17
Abd-Alrahman "Abude" Al-Asaad '17 left his home in Syria to study at the United World College in Maastricht, Netherlands. At Skidmore, he is studying economics with an honors forum minor.
He is grateful for the "respect and care" he receives at Skidmore. "My professors guide me through a glorious journey of curiosity and learning." Looking forward, Abude intends to express his gratitude to Mr. Davis and Mr. Geier through actions rather than just words. "I can tell you now that I am committed to the mission of strengthening international understanding as a means to achieve world peace."
Wisam Khaleefah '11
Wisam Khaleefah '11 left his native Iraq to study at the United World College of the Adriatic in Duino, Italy. At Skidmore, he earned a bachelor’s in international studies before going on to obtain a master’s in peace studies from the University of Notre Dame.
Wisam now manages the International Refugee Resettlement Program at the American Red Cross in Indiana.
Nomvula Kipsy Sekwentekile Ndwandwe '08
Nomvula Kipsy Sekwentekile Ndwandwe '08 came to Skidmore from Swaziland after graduating from the Red Cross Nordic United World College in Norway. At Skidmore, she majored in economics and minored in business and government.
Being a Davis United World College Scholar has inspired Nomvula to stay true to the UWC values and principles at work and in her community. "I believe it has also pushed me to look for more opportunities to advance my studies. I offer my sincere thanks to Davis UWC for being a part of positive change in our global society!"