Accomplished educator, Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta enrolled at at Vanderbilt University to study educational leadership through AAI’s African Graduate Fellowship Program (AFGRAD) from 1982-1984. In 2019, Ndong-Jatta received the Distinguished Alumna Award at AAI’s 35th Annual Awards Gala.

The featured video interview with Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta was conducted by AAI’s Alumni Director of Alumni Engagement, Kwesi Amoak, for AAI’s Alumni Outreach Initiative. Listen to Ndong-Jatta share her life’s story and how that shaped her illustrious career as the former Gambian Minister of Education, overseeing the creation of the first University of the Gambia, and the former Director of UNESCO Regional Office for East Africa, representing 13 African countries and championing educational reform.

“Ms. Ndong-Jatta’s leadership, drive, and commitment inspired and transformed the Social and Human Sciences Sector, in pushing forward its agenda for addressing emerging issues pertaining to social transformations, inclusion, human rights, bioethics, sports and culture of peace, among others. She strategically understood the need to rebuild the foundation of who we are as Africans and to decolonize the perception about Africa and Africans. She supported with pride and passion the piloting of the integration of the General History of Africa into the school curriculum; a groundbreaking achievement with Kenya as pioneer country. Her leadership is also true on technical topics as bioethics, where her confidence and encouragement led the Sector to host the very first Africa Regional Meeting of National Ethics and Bioethics Committees.  And the growing increasing importance and attention to ethical challenges brought about by COVID-19 just speaks to her visionary mind and, legitimates our new focus on exploring the potential of traditional medicine in Africa but also, the ethical dimensions of climate change or artificial intelligence.” ( “Ms. Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, The Leader That Is…”, UNESCO)