UWC Costa Rica is proud to announce that Susan Mullins, Board Chair, has been honored with the Seymour Preston Award by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), making her the first volunteer to receive this award from an institution outside the United States.Â
The award recognizes extraordinary trustee leadership in advancing voluntary support for independent schools.
Susan’s journey with UWC Costa Rica reflects the power of values-driven leadership. Joining the Board in the school’s early years, she helped guide the institution from promise to permanence, grounding its growth in strong governance, collaboration, and a deep commitment to mission.
Susan Mullins (UWC Costa Rica Board Chair) , Lee Fertig (Head of The Nueva School) & Sue Cunningham (Presiden & CEO of CASE).
A defining feature of Susan’s leadership has been her partnership with founding Head, Mauricio, whose shared belief in education as a force for peace and sustainability shaped the school’s identity. Together with the Board, staff, donors, and alums, they helped bring to life a bold vision — including the creation of a new campus designed to embody UWC Costa Rica’s values of sustainability, inclusion, and global citizenship.
Susan often speaks of philanthropy as an act of relationship and belief. Her commitment to staying connected with alumni across continents and generations has strengthened the college’s heart and long-term sustainability.
This global perspective was further highlighted during a recent “Global Conversation” at the CASE-NAIS Independent Schools Conference. Moderated by Sue Cunningham FRSA, President and CEO of CASE, the panel featured Susan alongside Lee Fertig, Head of The Nueva School, as they reflected on leadership journeys shaped by international education, Silicon Valley, and the creative industries. Their dialogue explored how place and perspective inform leadership, moving beyond a single thesis toward a shared understanding: that schools endure not by standing still, but by cultivating discernment, imagination, and care. For Susan, the discussion underscored that experience, when examined closely, becomes a vital form of guidance for the institutions we serve.
This recognition by CASE honors not only Susan’s leadership, but the collective effort of a community united by purpose — and by faith in young people as agents of change.
