Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will speak to the Class of 2008 about the attributes of leadership as today's Commencement speaker. Johnson-Sirleaf, the first democratically elected female leader of an African nation, will also receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
"I will talk about leadership and how you can make a difference in this world," Johnson-Sirleaf said in an interview with The Dartmouth. "And I hope that will be directed at the graduates to give them inspiration and motivation to go out there and achieve their highest potential."
Nicknamed "The Iron Lady," Johnson-Sirleaf became the first democratically selected female leader of an African nation when she was elected president of Liberia in 2005 by a margin of 59.4 percent. The Harvard-educated economist also worked for the World Bank and the United Nations in the 1980s and 1990s.
Johnson-Sirleaf said she was dedicated to improving the literacy of Liberian women, whom she called her "greatest constituency."
Several students approached by The Dartmouth said they did not know enough about Johnson-Sirleaf to comment on her selection as the Commencement speaker. Students who were familiar with Johnson-Sirleaf hoped to hear her speak about issues ranging from her perspective as a world leader to the obstacles she faces as a woman in power.
"It will be refreshing to hear the voice of a visionary female leader," Sara Ludin '08 said. "I hope her words are as motivating as I expect they will be."
Shamis Mohamud '08, a member of Students for Africa, said she hoped listeners would view Johnson-Sirleaf as a world leader, not merely as a female leader.
"A lot of people who are impressed with her seem to focus on her being a woman, but what I personally think is exceptional about her is just being a leader." Mohamud said. "Her leadership abilities are exceptional."
Anne Kasitaza '08, a double major in history with a regional focus on Africa and geography, said Johnson-Sirleaf's refusal to abandon her country despite personal safety risks was impressive. Johnson-Sirleaf, then Liberia's minister of finance, fled the country in the 1970s following a military coup.
She returned to campaign for a senate position, but was imprisoned and then exiled in 1985. Johnson-Sirleaf returned to Liberia in 1997 to protest Liberian dictator Charles Taylor's authoritarian regime. She unsuccessfully ran for president, finishing second out of 13 candidates. After the election, she fled the country again to escape charges of treason. When civil war forced Taylor to flee the country in 2003, Johnson-Sirleaf launched a successful campaign for president.
"[My] greatest experience in politics was the campaign with no infrastructure," Johnson-Sirleaf said.
"You have an example of a woman who could do anything she wanted, and she continued to return to her country," Kasitaza said. "The fact that she was committed in her ideals and tried to better her country just shows how patriotic she is and how she believes in changing Liberia for the better."
Rachel Strohm '08, co-founder of Students for Africa, said she looked forward to hearing Johnson-Sirleaf's opinions about development economics.
"Having her speak will open up windows onto so many important issues that we see as so different from our own," Strohm said. "I've read that civil war is one of the greatest weaknesses of a developing country, and I'm really hoping to hear her speak about what she's done in the aftermath of the latest civil war."
Most of all, Kasitaza said she hoped Johnson-Sirleaf will serve as an example for Dartmouth's class of 2008.
"I think her life experience serves as a great inspirational point for us," she said. "I think we really have the ability, the potential, to accomplish great things, and we have an example of an individual here who has done that."
Johnson-Sirleaf agreed, saying that she wanted to encourage the members of the Class of 2008 to achieve.
"My advice to college students -- determine what you want to do and go for it," she said. "Be consistent. Be persistent. Take all the challenges, overcome the obstacles and persevere. Keep on course and get exactly what you want."
The College president selects the Commencement speaker from a group chosen by the Council on Honorary Degrees, which is composed of three faculty members from the College and one faculty member each from Dartmouth Medical School, the Thayer School of Engineering and the Tuck School of Business.
