Myaamia tribe to Miami University... in Ohio... and their European HQ in Luxembourg

Lisa Burke
Jun 28
2 min read

Raymond Manes leaves MUDEC after 24 years

Raymond Manes is about to retire from 24 years at Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) in Luxembourg (MUDEC was established in 1968).

24 years is long enough to see how education and society changes.

Here are a few of the highlights, for me, from this interivew:

John E. Dolibois [that's the D in muDec] was born in Luxembourg but emigrated aged 13 with his Dad to Ohio without a word of English. He became a US citizen in 1941, returned to fight in WWII, interviewed Nazi war criminals at Mondorf and Nuremberg, including Hermann Göring in his cell.
Dolibois was called (whilst on holiday in Venice) by President Reagan to be appointed US Ambassador to Luxembourg in 1982.
Miami University is NOT in Miami: it's named after the Myaamia tribe, who later moved to Oklahoma, and is located in Oxford, Ohio!
Tribe members study at Miami tuition-free, and of roughly 150 graduates, 45 have come through Luxembourg. The Myaamia Center is actively revitalising the tribe's language and culture.
Along with Myaamia tribe members, students who went to Luxembourg schools can get scholarships to study in Miami university.
When students from Miami University come to Luxembourg, originally they stayed with host families, which was born of postwar gratitude. This link has faded and now students want to stay in their own studio apartments.
Originally the students spent a year in Luxembourg, the transit, by boat, taking a week!
Raymond talks about the different relationship parents who pay for education have with the educational institution - they are 'clients' and expect their children will get As. He talks about 'mowing' and 'helicopter' parenting styles. Helicopter parents hovering and mowing parents clearing every obstacle in their child's path.
Languages and the humanities are quietly retreating as families weigh every course against a future job, and the US trend is toward polytechnic, industry-linked degrees.