Mr. Robinson fought for over 30 years to advance U.S. – Africa relations and realized that only through educating people about the cultures and contributions of Africa and Africans could negative portrayals of the continent be changed. Leonard worked to show the positive images of Africa and bring Africa from the bottom of the U.S. foreign policy agenda to the top

Noah Samara, Esq., Chairman, Africa Society Board of Directors

Leonard Harrison Robinson, Jr.

The late Leonard H. Robinson, founder of The Africa Society, had more than 30 years working and living experience in international affairs, with Africa and Asia as regions of specialization. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1983-85, where he was responsible for the formulation of economic and commercial policies. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of State from 1990-1993, he facilitated US policies toward Central and West Africa. His other Africa-related assignments centered on Narcotics, Terrorism, Democracy and the Peace Corps (where he served as a volunteer, Associate Director for India and Director of Minority Recruitment for the US). He also directed US diplomatic initiatives to help in the resolution of the Liberia civil war.

Robinson spent six years as President of the US African Development Foundation, which was established by Congress in 1981 to provide official assistance to community-based organizations and grassroots enterprises throughout Africa. During his tenure, annual Congressional appropriations increased from an initial one million dollars to $17 million. He also worked with the US Agency for International Development and the Battelle Memorial Institute.

A native of North Carolina, Robinson received his BA from Ohio State University and attended graduate school at the State University of New York, Binghamton. He later attended post graduate school at the American University, Washington, DC, and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is the recipient of two honorary doctoral degrees.

As a scholar, Robinson was professor of African Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Senior Fellow at the University’s think tank—the Center for Development and Democracy at the John W. McCormack Institute.
Robinson founded the LHR International Group, Inc. in 1997, a political policy consulting firm specializing in the analysis of US foreign policy for the heads of state and foreign ministers of African and Asian nations. In 2001, he founded The Africa Society as a direct outgrowth of the historic National Summit on Africa. The Summit held a historic conference on Africa in Washington, DC, from February 16-20, 2000, which involved participation of over 8,000 Americans from every state, as well as continental Africans. With a grant supported by the Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the organization was established with the prime goal of educating all Americans about Africa.
Robinson is the author of several articles and publications, and serves on a number of boards. He has been listed in the Who's Who in America publication since 1985.

Robinson passed away on July 25, 2006 after battling health problems.