Aug. 12, 2002

Contact: Jacob Gordon, KU Center for Multicultural Leadership, (785) 864-3990; Heather Hoy, KU Continuing Education, (785) 864-3978.

Former U.S. ambassador to speak on international careers for black youth

Editor's note: A scanned photo of Delano Lewis is available by calling University Relations, (785) 864-8853.

LAWRENCE -- A former U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Delano E. Lewis, a 1960 University of Kansas graduate, will speak on "Preparing African-American Youth for Global Leadership" at the 17th annual Black Leadership Symposium on Oct. 31 at KU.

Lewis will talk to about 500 African-American students from 30 to 40 Kansas and Kansas City area high schools about the need and opportunities for black students to prepare for careers in international affairs and business, said Jacob Gordon, director of KU's Center for Multicultural Leadership and conference director.

"It's not a secret that there is a shortage of black Americans in international affairs," Gordon said. "We are needed now more than ever before.

"Sadly, what happened to us on Sept. 11 was a reminder to all Americans of our need to understand other cultures and the need for greater diversity among Americans serving in international affairs," Gordon added.

In addition to Lewis, several KU experts in international studies will participate in the symposium, Gordon said.

"We are fortunate to find one of our own graduates who had taken advantage of his educational and professional opportunities, leading to an outstanding leadership career in international affairs," Gordon said.

Born in Arkansas City in 1938, Lewis' parents moved to Kansas City, Kan., before he was school age. He is a 1956 Sumner High School graduate and a 1960 KU graduate with a bachelor's degree in political science and history. He received a law degree from Washburn University in 1963.

He and his wife, Gayle Carolyn Jones Lewis, moved to Washington, D.C., in 1963 after Lewis had worked a short stint with P.A. Townsend in Topeka. 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, Lewis was named director of the Peace Corps' East and Southern Africa Division. He later moved to Capitol Hill to work as a legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Edward Brooke of Massachusetts and then as administrative assistant to Walter Fauntroy, U.S. Representative for the District of Columbia.

Lewis became public affairs manager for C&P Telephone Co., serving the District of Columbia area, and rose through the corporate ranks to become president and chief executive. As he ended 21 years of service with C&P in 1993, Lewis was named president and CEO of National Public Radio.

In 1998, Lewis and his wife had retired to New Mexico when President Bill Clinton asked him to serve as U.S. ambassador to South Africa. Lewis served in the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria from December 1999 to July 2001.

Before becoming ambassador to South Africa, Lewis served on the boards of directors for Colgate-Palmolive Company, Eastman Kodak, the Halliburton Co. and Black Entertainment Television. Since Lewis' retirement from the diplomatic corps, he and his wife have returned to Las Cruces, N.M., where he is president and CEO of his communications consulting practice, Lewis & Associates.

The KU Black Leadership Symposium is sponsored by a number of KU offices, including the provost's and chancellor's offices; Minority Affairs; Continuing Education; Admissions and Scholarships; Coca-Cola; KU centers for Asian and East Asian, of Russian and East European, and of Latin American studies; African and African-American studies department; KU's Resource Center for African Studies; and KU's Study Abroad and International Programs.