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Alumni Event | Exploring Modern Africa
Exploring Modern Africa: A Conversation with Amb. Howard F. Jeter, Nantes 67-68
After taking several African Studies courses at Morehouse College, studying abroad for a year with IES Nantes as a Merrill Scholar, earning Masters Degrees at Columbia University (International Relations/Comparative Politics) and UCLA (African Area Studies), Ambassador Howard Jeter spent most of his career with the US State Department living and working for more than 18 years in numerous African countries beginning in the 1970s and later serving as US Ambassador to both Nigeria and Botswana. His exceptional knowledge of life and politics across the African continent have made him a much sought after board member and consultant to numerous international organizations.
Watch Ambassador Jeter together with IES Abroad’s Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Michael Adewumi, originally from Nigeria, for this lively conversation. Originally recorded on October 6, 2021.

IES Abroad Nantes, 1967-68
Panelist

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, IES Abroad
Panelist
About Howard F. Jeter:
Born and raised in Union, South Carolina, Howard F. Jeter had a distinguished 27-year career in the Foreign Service, mostly serving in Africa. Over the course of his career, Jeter served as the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and State Department Director of West African Affairs. He also served as President Bill Clinton’s Special Envoy to Liberia and Ambassador to Botswana. Jeter had other assignments in Mozambique, Tanzania, Lesotho, and Namibia.
He lived and worked in Africa for more than 18 years, and upon his retirement from the U.S. State Department in 2003, Jeter began working with a prominent international business and advisory consulting group in Washington, D.C. He then served as interim president of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation and chaired the United States Export-Import Bank Advisory Committee on Africa. Jeter has served on the board of directors of Houston-based ERHC Energy, Inc. and most recently was appointed to the board of directors of Oracle Energy, based in Toronto.
About Michael Adewumi:
Dr. Michael Adewumi is the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at IES Abroad. Dr. Adewumi joined IES Abroad in January 2019 leading its 400+ academic programs around the world serving more than 10,000 students a year.
At IES Abroad, Dr. Adewumi works closely with President & CEO Gregory D. Hess, PhD to shape the strategic direction of IES Aboard. He also provides leadership and direction to the organization’s academic offerings overseeing the IES Abroad Academic Department, as well as ensuring the organization’s dedication to academic excellence through outstanding programming, continual assessment, and program enhancement, which prepares IES Abroad students to thrive in a global society.