George de Lama, Journalist and International Development Official, Named President of Eisenhower Fellowships

Peter Chawaga, for GPA -- Last month, Eisenhower Fellowships announced the appointment of George de Lama as the organization’s president effective starting August 4.

Founded in 1953, Eisenhower Fellowships identifies international leaders from across professions to participate in world forums and exchange programs, with the ultimate goal of creating international prosperity and cohesion. Every year, Eisenhower Fellowships bring nearly 50 global professionals to the United States and send a dozen American residents abroad to participate in conferences, speaking engagements and cultural events, including numerous appointments with leading experts in their fields.

De Lama, a journalist and international development official, has a long record of international engagement. Early in his career he was pivotal in establishing an American newspaper bureau in Havana. He also served as an external relations advisor for the Inter-American Development Bank, a crucial source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. After a 30 year career with the Chicago Tribune, de Lama was named managing editor in 2006. He oversaw a Pulitzer Prize winning news staff and was the first Latino to appear on the newspaper’s masthead.

“This is a thrilling opportunity to contribute to the deepening of international understanding across cultures and national borders,” de Lama said of his appointment. “I look forward to working closely with our exceptional Fellows, Trustees and staff to build on their innovative programs and advance the mission of this visionary organization.”

De Lama will be succeeding current president John Wolf, a former United States ambassador to Malaysia, who is retiring after 10 years.

Photo courtesy of Eisenhower Fellows.