Xiaohang Sumner
Director General
Xiaohang Sumner's connection to UWC dates back to 1986, when she was selected by the Ministry of Education to attend UWC-USA as a student representing China. She is the founding Deputy Chair of the UWC National Committee of China and Director of the project to establish UWC Changshu China.
An experienced IB teacher, examiner, teacher-training workshop leader and school administrator, Xiaohang brings many years of international education experience from UWC to China. She was Director of Extra-Academics at Red Cross Nordic UWC before taking on the role of founding Principal at an IB school in China. Because of her experience as an IB educator and examiner, she is regularly called upon to lead workshops in IB education, Theory of Knowledge and governance in IB schools. She is a founding board member for the Association of China and Mongolia International Baccalaureate Schools.
She holds an MA in Economics and an MBA from the University of Toronto, and has also received an Excellence in Teaching award from the University of Chicago.
Ian Graham
Vice Principal
Director of Academics
Melissa Belfry has over a decade’s experience in residential life, counseling and teaching at UWCs in Canada and the United States. She was Director of Wellness and Student Services at UWC-USA, and also taught and examined IB Theory of Knowledge. Melissa also developed and taught project-based ‘Advanced UWC Courses’ in Women’s and Gender Studies and Activism.
Melissa holds undergraduate degrees in Women’s Studies and Geography, a professional degree in Social Work, and an MA in Women’s Studies and Human and Social Development, all from the University of Victoria, Canada. Melissa is passionate about putting theory into practice to create positive social change, especially using the UWC mission.
Melissa Belfry
Director of Residences
Robert Clarence
Head of School (from August 2014)
Ian Graham has spent 32 years of his career in international education and 10 of those years in United World Colleges, namely UWCSEA (Singapore), Li Po Chun UWC (Hong Kong) and UWC Atlantic College (Wales).
Ian has a degree in English from the University of Wales, and a teaching Diploma. He has 23 years of experience in teaching the IB Diploma Programme, beginning in 1976. He has led IB workshops in Vienna, Holland and Australia and was an IB examiner for the Extended Essay for many years and oral examiner in English at UWC Adriatic (Duino) for two years. He and his wife were in charge of residential houses in Wales and Hong Kong and he has been a University Admissions counsellor for the last eight years.
He and his wife are delighted to have the opportunity to live and work again in the stimulating, exciting and challenging surroundings of a UWC and to be back in Asia, an area of the world they both find fascinating. They were part of the team which helped to get Li Po Chun UWC under way in 1992 and they are looking forward to similar (and different) challenges in Changshu.
Sheldon joins the UWC China team following 12 years in not for profit, independent, international schools in Hong Kong, Romania, and Thailand. He has served in senior management roles in each school, within the business and operations functions; these schools ranged from start-up to 50-years in service, and enrollment from 500 to 1,870. Sheldon is from the United States where he has earned degrees in Engineering Physics and Information Systems, and is now a PhD candidate in Organizational Transformation.
Sheldon Hutchison
Director of Operations
Robert’s extensive teaching career has seen his holding head of school positions in four countries: South Africa (his native country), Spain, Portugal and Norway. In South Africa, Robert was Headmaster of St John’s College, one of the country’s leading Independent schools, before he became the Founding Head of Beaulieu College. In Portugal, Robert was the Principal of St Dominic’s School, a world renowned International Baccalaureate school.
Robert has taught a variety of subjects from English, Latin and French, on the one hand, to History and Theory of Knowledge, on the other hand. He believes strongly in the principle of life-long learning and he has a particular interest in schools which embrace the rich cultural diversity of the world’s peoples.
Robert completed a BA (Hons) degree in English and History at Rhodes University (South Africa) before proceeding to the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, where he was awarded an M.Litt degree in English. Robert has always placed the highest value on education and he believes that excellent institutions should play a leading role in creating a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Li Ping
Director of Chinese Programmes
Li Ping graduated in 1982 from Xiamen University, a renowned Chinese university. She spent 13 years at Xiamen University’s Chinese Language and Literature Department as an Assistant Lecturer and then a Lecturer before moving to Hong Kong in 1994.
Li Ping has been part of the Languages Department of Li Po Chun United World College Hong Kong since 1995. She has taught IBDP Chinese A Literature, Chinese A Language and Literature, and Chinese B over the past 20 years. Li Ping has also played a leading role in organizing a variety of extra-curricular Chinese cultural activities and the China Week trips. Her outstanding achievements, both academic and extra-curricular, have frequently been commended by the college.
Li Ping is an experienced IB examiner for Chinese A. In recent years, she has led seven IB workshops for teachers (in both Chinese A and B). In the workshops, her stimulating insights were warmly welcomed by academics and colleagues in the field. Through her sound academic training and 32 years of teaching experience in Chinese Literature and Chinese Language, Li Ping is highly regarded in the field. In September 2013, Li Ping was named an "Outstanding Educator" by the University of Chicago in appreciation of the contributions Li Ping has made in nurturing the younger generations. In the letter to LPCUWC, the University of Chicago lauded Li Ping for “channel[ing] students’ private interest into productive paths for intellectual growth, [and] contribut[ing] to the academic and personal development of young people”.
Connie Kenny
Director of Admissions (Interim)
Connie Kenny is a highly accomplished educator with extensive global experience. She has been both a leader and educator in numerous international schools in countries including Germany, Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong and South Korea. Her areas of expertise include early childhood education, English language acquisition, curriculum and admissions.
Connie recently established a new admissions office in Seoul for Branksome Hall Asia, a new K-12 IB school in Jeju Island (South Korea), leading to the enrolment of over 500 students. Prior to joining Branksome Hall Asia, Connie was Assistant Principal at the prestigious German Swiss International School in Hong Kong. As an IB teacher trainer and consultant she has designed and implemented training programmes for teachers, parents and administrators.
Her work is noted for developing effective and enthusiastic teaching teams focused on improving student learning. Her focus on academic rigour and maintenance of the highest academic standards has helped her successfully launch the International Baccalaureate programmes in many of the schools that she has been involved in. With her experience both as a teacher at United World College South East Asia and a UWC parent, Connie is committed to the UWC movement.
Dr. Barry Drake's 40-year career has taken him to international schools in Africa, the Middle East, South East and East Asia, including periods with the prestigious Chinese International School in Hong Kong and with the United World Colleges in Wales and Hong Kong.
Barry currently wears many hats: he is an educational consultant; a Senior Associate with Search Associates; a senior IB examiner; a director on school and charity boards; a member of school accreditation and inspection organizations; and he also works for the CfBT accreditation and school inspection group.
Barry has a BA in Economics and Modern History and an MA in Economic History. His PhD in Education was awarded by the University of Bath (UK) for his research on pastoral care programmes in international schools.
Dr. Barry Drake
Senior Consultant
Interim Head of School (Jan-July 2014)
