Alumnus and former ambassador comes home to KU

Delano Lewis (photo by Jeff Davis)

Ambassador Delano E. Lewis, c'60, will return to KU Oct. 31 to address the 17th Annual Black Leadership Conference. Lewis, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa, will speak to hundreds of African-American high school students from throughout Kansas and the greater Kansas City area. This year's conference theme is "Preparing African-American Youth for Global Leadership."

The focus on career opportunities in international affairs and business is perfectly suited for Lewis as the keynote. Since graduating from KU, Lewis has led a remarkable career, including leadership roles with the Peace Corps, National Public Radio, and most recently, the U.S. diplomatic corps.

Born in Arkansas City in 1938, Lewis moved to Kansas City, Kan., before he was school age. He is a 1956 Sumner High School graduate; at KU he earned his bachelor's degree in political science and history. He received a law degree from Washburn University in 1963. Lewis worked as an attorney first for the U.S. Justice Department and later for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

From 1966 to 1969, Lewis served in the U.S. Peace Corps as associate director in Nigeria and later as country director in Uganda. On his return from Africa, he was named director of the Peace Corps' East and Southern Africa Division. After rising through the ranks of C&P Telephone in Washington, D.C., to become president and CEO, in 1994 he became CEO of National Public Radio. Lewis retired from NPR in 1998, and one year later was appointed by President Clinton as U.S. ambassador to South Africa. For his service to humanity, Lewis in 1994 received the Distinguished Service Citation, the highest honor bestowed by the University and the Alumni Association. He currently serves as a vice chair of the national alumni board of directors.

At the Black Leadership Conference, young Kansans not only will hear from Lewis, but they also will attend an international career fair and tour the KU campus. The conference encourages the pursuit of post secondary education and leadership in international affairs and business. To view the conference brochure, visit the KU Continuing Education Web site at http://www.kumc.edu/kuce/app/bls/ The program is co-sponsored by more than a dozen KU departments.

#top#