Teachers & Staff in South Sudan

Staff

• Mayik Thiik Mayik, Supervisor

Teachers

• Bona Nhial Kuot

• Daniel Dhol Mawien

• David Duyak Kor

• Mary Adeng Bol

• Peter Madau Mayiik

• Kuch Mayol Baak

• Mou Thiik Giir

• Moses Mou Akok

• Wilson Majok Anei

• Makol Reec Baak

• Deng Knot Athian

• Joseph Akeen Angok

• Tto Akok jok

• Parek Akech Achuii

• Santino Awer Akok

• Bul Thiik Mayiik

• Santino Bol Nhiai

• William Akol Madut

• Bol Madut Choi

• Donato Agim Jok

Cooks

• Alom Wol Dhal

• Akuot Adim Estater

• Yar Malual Dhuor

• Nyawiir Mayer Maiwal

• Ayak Garang Agany

Watchmen

• Bol Dut Athuai

• Kuot Kuot Maruon

Board of Directors

The Marol Academy has a ten-member board of directors

Jok Madut Jok, Ph.D

Executive Director & Founder

Jok Madut Jok, is a highly respected professor at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles. He is co-founder and executive director of the Sudd Institute, an independent research organization in South Sudan.  A native of Marol, South Sudan, he has researched and written extensively on such topics as humanitarian intervention, African and Sudanese political history, slavery, gender based violence, reproductive health, nutrition, and civil conflict. Dr. Jok earned his doctorate in anthropology from UCLA, a Master of Arts degree in Medical Anthropology from the American University in Cairo (Egypt) and a Bachelor of Arts in Arts & Humanities from the University of Alexandria. He is the recipient of several fellowships, has been a research fellow, lecturer and professor at major United States and international institutions, and has published more than two dozen scholarly books and articles.

Barbara Mathieu, Ph.D

Co-founder, Advisor to the Board

Education has been a major focus of Ms. Mathieu’s professional and personal life, and she has observed and participated in the education of children and adults in various settings, including living and teaching in Zambia and Lesotho. As a professor of anthropology at West Los Angeles College, she's seen the transformative power of education in the lives of people of every age. Ms. Mathieu earned her degrees in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is passionate in Marol’s mission to facilitate educational opportunity for children and adolescents of rural Southern Sudan, which she believes is an antidote to the hopelessness of violence and war, and essential to building a stable nation-state.

Victoria L. Graf, Ph.D

Board Member

Ms. Graf is a professor of education at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), where she also served for three years as special assistant to the Chief Academic Officer. She has dedicated her academic and professional life to the training of future educators, focusing on the special needs field. She has received numerous grants from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education, and has published extensively based on her research, which has taken her to schools across the U.S., the U.K./Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, and Tanzania. In her position as a board member, Ms. Graf was instrumental in organizing a collection project of needed school materials from colleagues, students, and staff at LMU to be sent to the Marol Primary School. She is committed to Marol Academy’s vision of supporting sustainable education in South Sudan.

Peter Buhler, Ph.D

Board Member

Mr. Buhler is professor emeritus of African history, South Asian, and Middle East studies at Boise State University. His work in all three areas focused on the past as a window to a better comprehension of contemporary developments. His teachings emphasized the reality that all politics, economics, and social phenomena are ultimately local, while most international aid today is centered on development at the national level, except in times of famine, war, or health crises. His travels and research taught him that the most valuable local developmental aid lies largely in the helping hands of locally engaged nongovernmental organizations. He passionately supports what he considers the core need in Africa: the creation of an educated and healthy population to shape a brighter future.

Richard Sundeen, Ph.D

Board Member

Mr. Sundeen is professor emeritus of the University of Southern California.  His teaching and research focused on nonprofit organizations and volunteerism, allowing him considerable insight into the positive role played by nonprofits, as well as the challenges they face. He has also taught and worked in developing countries, such as Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, and visited nongovernmental programs in Tanzania, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. His education and experience have contributed to his drive to work toward providing greater access to education for all people, especially younger persons in rural areas.
 

Dan Hyslop

Chair

Dan is the Medical Director of Loyola Marymount University Student Health Services.  He met Jok at the university and became an earlier supporter of his work in South Sudan.  He and his wife Rebecca were married by Jim Mathieu.  They have two children.  Dan has an MFA in Screenwriting from LMU and hopes one day to direct.  Dan and Rebecca credit their educations for getting them where they are today.  They believe that every child deserves the opportunity that only education can provide.

Patricia Forbes

Co-Chair

Ms. Forbes’ graduate research focused on the social and economic marginalization of females in refugee camps and post-conflict venues in the Horn of Africa. She traveled to Rumbek, South Sudan, in the summer of 2010, where she learned about the Marol Academy and its remarkable accomplishments. In addition to Patricia's time in East Africa, her volunteer efforts in India and Sri Lanka led her to recognize the transformative impact education has on both individuals and society as a whole, and how education is the cornerstone of a vibrant civil society.

Mary Wehbi

Advisor to the Board

Ms. Wehbi is professor emeritus of early childhood education at Santa Monica College (SMC) after completing 42 years as an educator. As a teacher at Santa Monica High School, she developed a program for pregnant and parenting teens, and later worked as a consultant to the school district. She has designed, staffed, and purchased all equipment for five state-funded preschools. She created SMC’s first online course in the Ed/ECE department, and trained teachers in early childhood education. Ms. Wehbi is honored to serve on the board and looks forward to working with her fellow board members to bring to fruition this ray of hope in South Sudan.

Lily Flexon

Treasurer

Lily Flexon is currently an undergraduate business student at Loyola Marymount University. Lily plans to pursue a career in accounting and is eager to learn more about the financial side of organizations. It will also create the opportunity for Lily to apply her learning outside the classroom and gain real-life experience. Throughout high school, Lily spent a lot of time volunteering at different schools and felt so fulfilled by the experience.  During her junior year, Lily created an after-school dance program for middle school students who did not have access to dance studios and lacked confidence in themselves. Lily taught the kids weekly and organized a recital twice a year for their friends and family. Lily grew very close to students and saw so much growth in the students. That experience allowed her to see how important it is to create these opportunities for children to have access to education. Lily looks forward to working with everybody and is very thankful for the opportunity of being a part of such a great cause.