Institute Insider

The 2009 Distinguished Carlson Lecture will feature Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 10, at Northrop Memorial Auditorium. Doors open at 1 p.m. President Johnson Sirleaf’s speech is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets are available at the front desk in Room 130 of the Humphrey Center. They are limited to two per person, although arrangements for larger blocks of tickets can be made by contacting Camille Gage at 612-625-5309.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was inaugurated as Liberia’s – and Africa’s – first female head of state on January 16, 2006. After more than a decade of civil unrest, she has revived national hope and restored Liberia’s international reputation and credibility. She has used her diplomatic and negotiating skills to reactivate bilateral relations with several countries, including France, Germany, Canada, Israel, Italy, and the United States. In recognition of her tireless efforts to make Liberia a post-conflict success story, President Johnson Sirleaf was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor bestowed by an American president.