April 18, 2023
College alumni S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ’06 emphasizes education, professional achievements
After graduating from the College of William and Mary, Board of Visitors member S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ‘06 still centers education within his career. Whether working as a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC or as a U.S. representative at the United Nations, Bunch continues to emphasize the importance of learning.
“I think education may be the number one factor in advancement and mobility, socially, economically, in terms of the progress of humankind in general,” Bunch said. “I think it’s the way that we can do the most to improve our own ability to help the reset of the world and advance our common interest as human beings.”
Bunch’s desire to improve opportunities for others is rooted in his personal experience. “I grew up in Augusta County, Virginia,” he said. “My dad drove a UPS truck and my mom was a public school teacher. I was the first person on my dad’s side of the family to graduate from college. For me, William and Mary was truly transformative. It inspired me to think critically, creatively and globally.”
When investing in the education of others, Bunch thinks big and does not shy away from ambitious projects. As a Monroe Scholar in 2000, he founded Ascanius: The Youth Classics Institute, a nonprofit organization which teaches classical studies to elementary and middle school students. In 2006, Bunch co-founded Global Playground, a nonprofit which has built educational infrastructure in 11 underdeveloped and developing countries.
Read the complete article in The College of William & Mary’s The Flat Hat.