Stephen Lewis, Celebrated Humanitarian and Former U.N. Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, to Address Walden University Doctoral Students

Stephen Lewis

Minneapolis—March 30, 2015—Stephen Lewis, one of the world’s most influential commentators on social affairs, international development and human rights, will speak to more than 450 doctoral students at Walden University’s academic residency on Wednesday, April 1, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center hotel in Virginia. Lewis is a celebrated humanitarian, speaker and best-selling author known for his powerful presentations on the topics of social justice, international development, HIV/AIDS and climate change.

Lewis’ work with the United Nations spanned more than two decades, including serving as the U.N. secretary-general’s special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from 2001–2006. From 1984–1988, he was the Canadian ambassador to the U.N., chairing the committee that drafted the five-year U.N. program for African economic recovery. In 1988, Lewis chaired the first International Conference on Climate Change.

He is the co-founder and co-director of AIDS-Free World, an international advocacy organization that works to promote more urgent and more effective global responses to HIV and AIDS. In addition to his work with AIDS-Free World, Lewis is a Professor of Distinction at Ryerson University in Toronto. Lewis is also the author of the best-selling book Race Against Time. He holds 37 honorary degrees from Canadian universities, as well as honorary degrees from Dartmouth College and Johns Hopkins University. In 2005, TIME magazine named Lewis as one of the “100 most influential people in the world.”

Academic residencies at Walden support students’ academic and professional goals by connecting them with individual faculty mentors, student support staff and hundreds of peers. During academic residencies, students from all doctoral and select master’s degree programs have the opportunity to conceptualize and develop research that contributes to positive social change.

Walden’s plenary sessions are an integral part of the residencies and are led by speakers from around the world who share their experiences and viewpoints to inspire insightful debate and lively conversation. These sessions are intended to provide Walden students, faculty and staff members with the opportunity to hear perspectives on a variety of topics that are meaningful and relevant to their lives as both scholars and practitioners.

For more information about Walden University, visit www.WaldenU.edu.

About Walden University

For 45 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 47,800 students from all 50 states and more than 150 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 80 campus-based and online universities in 29 countries.

Walden offers more than 80 degree programs with more than 370 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, social work, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.