A Lunchtime Conversation about History, Reparations, and Policy

This event is open to the University of Michigan community. RSVP is kindly requested. Food will be served, so you may arrive as early as 11:45 AM for lunch.

Earl Lewis is the Thomas C. Holt Distinguished University Professor of History, Afroamerican and African Studies, and Public Policy, and the inaugural director of the Center for Social Solutions at the University of Michigan.

He became the sixth President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in March 2013 and served in that role until March 2018. Under his guidance, the Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to the humanities, the arts, and higher education by emphasizing the importance of continuity and change.

A noted social historian, and immediate past-President of the Organization of American Historians (OAH), Dr. Lewis has held faculty appointments at the University of California at Berkeley (1984–89), and the University of Michigan (1989–2004). During his previous time at Michigan, he served as director of the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies (1990-93) and Dean, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Graduate Studies (1998-2004). In addition, he held the title of the Elsa Barkley Brown and Robin D.G. Kelley Collegiate Professor of history and Afroamerican and African Studies.

Prior to joining The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Lewis served as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of History and African American Studies at Emory University. As Provost, Lewis led academic affairs and academic priority setting for the university. He also championed the importance of diversifying the academy, enhancing graduate education, re-visioning the liberal arts, exploring the role of digital tools for learning, and connecting universities to their communities. 

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