UVa honors Madeleine Albright with Leadership Award

Originally published by the Roanoke Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is the winner of the University of Virginia’s first Edward R. Stettinius Jr. Prize for Global Leadership. Albright was honored at a ceremony Tuesday night at the Boar’s Head Inn.

In her speech, Albright praised the work of Stettinius, the former secretary of state who was instrumental in the creation of the United Nations after World War II.Albright also pushed back against the rhetoric of isolationism and said the U.S. should take a leadership role in advocating democracy and human rights abroad. “We cannot take the world that Edward Stettinius helped to build for granted,” Albright said.

The award’s namesake was a former UVa student — though he never graduated — who later became the first U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Stettinius quit his newly created post in 1946 after just one year, citing differences with President Harry Truman.
He served as UVa’s rector from 1946 until his death in 1949.

The Stettinius Prize was created last October — on the 70th anniversary of the U.N.’s founding — to honor those who embody the best virtues of the former ambassador, including public service and leadership on a global scale, said Jeff Legro, UVa’s vice president for global affairs.

Albright praised Stettinius for his role as administrator of the Lend-Lease program, in which the U.S. provided aid to the Allies during World War II. At the time, the program was considered a bold step for the U.S., which had maintained a policy of neutrality and isolationism since the 1930s. “I’m very grateful to the University of Virginia for not only giving me this award, but also reminding us what true American leadership was about,” Albright said.

The search committee includes Ted Stettinius, the grandson of the former ambassador, as well as several high-ranking UVa faculty and staff. Bill Antholis, director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs, was on this year’s committee, as well as David Leblang, chairman of the Department of Politics. Legro said the award will not be limited to diplomats or government officials.
“We’d definitely be open to anyone who has provided leadership on the global role,” he said. “It could be someone who led a global charity. It’s not limited to [diplomats].”

The ceremony also recognized Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, editor of Nigeria’s Sunday Punch newspaper and recipient of the inaugural Presidential Precinct Young Leader Award. The award recognizes an outstanding participant in a program inviting young leaders to Virginia to learn about nation-building. Ogunseye told the audience she was honored to share the stage with Albright, who has worked for women’s rights around the world. “I’m optimistic that tonight we’ll move a step closer to gender equality, rule of law, democracy and a civil society,” she said.