Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 12, 2001

Volume 30, Number 6

Higher education, African
development are talks' focus

Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, managing director of the World Bank, and Kenneth Prewitt, dean of the Graduate Faculty at New School University, will present separate keynote lectures as part of a conference on "International Higher Education and African Development" taking place on campus Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 18-21.

The conference is presented by the Yale Center for International and Area Studies, the African Studies Program and the Economic Growth Center. Both keynote lectures are free and open to the public.

Ramphele will discuss "The University as an Actor in Development: New Perspectives and Demands" on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Ave. Prewitt will present "Higher Education, Society and Government: Changing Dynamics" on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Rm. 203 of Luce Hall.

Dr. Mamphela Ramphele

A South African national, Ramphele assumed her position as a managing director of the World Bank in May 2000. She is the first African and only the second female to hold this position. As a member of the senior leadership team, she is responsible for managing the institution's human development activities in the areas of education; health, nutrition and population; and social protection. She provides oversight and guidance to the bank group's efforts with client governments in strengthening human development support systems.

Prior to joining the bank, Ramphele was vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, a post she took up in 1996, becoming the first black woman to hold this position at a South African university.

Ramphele started her career in the 1970s as a student activities in the Black Consciousness Movement, and she has been honored widely for her contribution to the struggle against apartheid. She has also worked as a medical doctor, civil rights leader, community development worker and academic researcher. From 1977 to 1984 she was banished by the South African government to a remote township where she continued her work with the rural poor and established a community health program.

Kenneth Prewitt

Prewitt became dean of the Graduate Faculty of Political and Social Science at New School University in New York earlier this year. The Graduate Faculty is known for its interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research in the social sciences and its international outlook.

Prior to assuming his current post, Prewitt was director of the United States Census Bureau for two years. The agency produces an extensive array of economic and demographic statistics for the nation. His main attention at the Census Bureau was on Census 2000 -- often described as the largest peacetime mobilization in history. Prewitt had overall responsibility for ensuring that 281 million residents were counted.

Prewitt came to government service after a career in higher education and private philanthropy. From 1995 to 1998, he served as the president of the Social Science Research Council, a position he also held from 1979 to 1985. For 10 years, he was senior vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation, where he directed the international Science-Based Development Program involving activities in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He taught for 15 years at the University of Chicago and was also on the faculties of Stanford, Columbia and Washington universities; the University of Nairobi and Makerere University in Uganda.

Yale faculty members interested in more information on the conference may call (203) 432-9368.

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