David Scudder

David Scudder is the Head of Science at African Leadership Academy, and he teaches Biology and Scientific Research. He is passionate about exposing students to current research and helping them see connections to the African continent, and he employs different means to achieve these goals. In Scientific Research, students choose a particular area of current investigation and become experts on that field, eventually producing a review paper of the field and presenting at the annual Scientific Research Symposium. And in the Biology class, David has students write mock proposals to the Global Fund, presenting a public health solution for HIV, TB, or malaria for a particular at-risk population in their home country. 

David is an American from Nashville, Tennessee. David received a B.S. with Distinction in Biological Sciences from Stanford University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and the recipient of the J.E. Wallace Sterling Scholastic Award for top-performing seniors. Upon graduation, he received one of twelve $20,000 fellowships to study at the Trinity Forum Academy, studying the integration of science and faith under geneticist Francis Collins. He came to African Leadership Academy as part of the inaugural faculty in 2008. He served first as a Teaching Fellow, then Head of Life Sciences, and he was appointed Head of Science in 2010.

Outside the classroom, David has served in numerous roles at ALA, from developing the innovative Seminal Readings program, to forming the Hiking Club that takes students out in the Magaliesberg, to founding the ALA singing group known as ALApella. But he is most passionate about two extracurricular roles: serving as a Hallmaster in the residence, and coaching the ultimate frisbee team, which has competed in the South African Nationals.

David was interviewed for a story with Stanford Magazine, available here.