Earl Lewis is the Thomas C. Holt Distinguished University Professor of History, Afroamerican and African Studies, and Public Policy, and the founding director of the Center for Social Solutions at the University of Michigan. From 2013-2018, he served as president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
In his position as Mellon president, Lewis fostered and oversaw the most formidable and influential philanthropic programs in the Humanities. As a scholar and leader in higher education and philanthropy, he has examined and addressed critical issues for our society, including the consequence of race in American history; diversity, equity and inclusion in American society; the evolution of graduate education; the fundamental necessity of humanities scholarship; and the productive synergy of universities and their larger communities.
An author and esteemed social historian, he is past president of the Organization of American Historians. A fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the recipient of 11 honorary degrees, Lewis has held faculty and administrative appointments at the University of Michigan (1989-2004) and the University of California, Berkeley (1984-1989). From 2004-2012, he served as Emory University’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of History and African American Studies. In addition to prior service on a number of nonprofit and governmental boards, Lewis is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, chairs the Board of Regents at Concordia College, is a trustee of ETS and a director of 2U and the Capital Group, American Funds.
Tuesday, November 12
6 p.m., Farnsworth Pavilion
"STEM is Not Enough in a Robot-Enhanced World: The Case for HEATS (Humanities, Engineering, Arts, Technology and Sciences)"
Wednesday, November 13
6 p.m., Farnsworth Pavilion
"Race, It's Always Personal"
Thursday, November 14
6 p.m., Farnsworth Pavilion
"What Our World Needs Now: Undoing the Third Slavery"
