The January issue of the Swarthmore College Bulletin is very special—diverse, colorful, and interesting reading. We especially enjoyed the article about Ashesi University and Patrick Awuah ’89 (“A New Model of Leadership for Africa”).

We had the good fortune to be in Ghana two years ago on a volunteer project with our friends Prudence and Ed Dunning ’50. We helped as teachers in an elementary school in Akrade, a small village several hours north of Accra. We had learned about Patrick from Jane Mullins ’50, former College registrar, and our son Tom ’89, an engineering classmate of Patrick’s.

Unannounced, the four of us visited the Ashesi campus, which consisted at that point of several modest buildings in a residential district. Patrick graciously took time from his scheduled day to explain his dream of a liberal arts university in Ghana and proudly show us the architectural model for the new suburban campus being planned. He then arranged for two students to give us the campus tour.

We were struck by Patrick’s quiet, confident demeanor and by his desire to really make a difference in African education. Drawing from his experience at Swarthmore, he envisioned what the new school would entail: a diverse student body; generous financial aid; a broad, academic curriculum; a goal of teaching students to think critically and analytically; and a low student-faculty ratio.

We feel confident that he will succeed.

Bill ’60 and Linda Rothwell Lee ’60
Meredith, N.H.