Stephen Lewis

Mr. Lewis is a nationally recognized public health advocate and has long worked to further the causes of compassion and prevention. Prior to his 2001 appointment as UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Mr. Lewis served as UNICEF Deputy Executive Director from 1995 to 1999, was appointed by the Organization of African Unity to a Panel of Eminent Personalities to Investigate the Genocide in Rwanda in 1997, and worked as Canadian Ambassador to the UN from 1984 to 1988.

In 2003, Mr. Lewis founded the Stephen Lewis Foundation to help ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Through this organization, Mr. Lewis provides community-level care to HIV-infected women who are dying, assists orphans and other AIDS-affected children, and supports associations of people living with HIV/AIDs so that they can educate themselves and their communities.

He also was named in Time's special issue of influential people on April 10 in the category of "Heroes and Icons."

Native American Honor Song to Be Shared

To commemorate the founding of the Harvard Indian College 350 years ago and to recognize relationships between Harvard and Native American groups, a tribal councilman from the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Massachusetts, will share an honor song as part of the HSPH Commencement Ceremony.

The song is offered to honor the memory of past Native American graduates and to recognize the accomplishments of this year's graduates, explained alumna Charlene Worley, who is Native American and is director of research and evaluation at the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center. She helped coordinate the five-minute performance with Jim Glover, director of student affairs at HSPH.

The tribal councilman, Tobias Vanderhoop, will lead a small group of Native Americans into the Commencement Ceremony tent immediately following the incoming procession of graduates. There are four HSPH Native American graduates in June 2005.

The Harvard Charter of 1650 described a commitment to "the education of the English and Indian youth of the country." Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck from the Wampanoag Tribe on Martha's Vineyard graduated from Harvard in 1665, the first Native American to do so. Other events to honor the founding of Harvard Indian College have been planned around the University.