Former UN official Elliott Harris to give the 2024 KU Self Graduate Fellowship Symposium Lecture

LAWRENCE — Elliott Harris, who previously served as the United Nations’ assistant secretary-general for economic development and chief economist, will present the 2024 Self Graduate Fellowship Symposium Lecture at the University of Kansas.

Harris will present "Growth, Globalization, and Geopolitics: How Effective Can National Economic Policy Be?" at 3:30 p.m. April 19 in Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas Union. His talk is free and open to the public. 

Through his role in the United Nations, Harris has been a driving force behind macroeconomic policy shifts aimed at reducing poverty and creating resilient and sustained economic development for all. His career in international economics spans 34 years. He was closely involved in the design of the global Sustainable Development Agenda and the policies aimed at reducing poverty, generating more equitable social outcomes and environmental sustainability, and creating resilient and sustainable development.

Born in the Bahamas and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Harris has a bachelor’s degree in German and political science as well as advanced degrees in economics. He was awarded an advanced studies certificate in international economics and policy research from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. 

About the series

The Self Graduate Fellowship Symposium Lecture is sponsored by the Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship. The late Madison “Al” and Lila Self launched and permanently endowed the Self Graduate Fellowship in 1989. As the fellowship celebrates 35 years, this annual symposium brings together Self Graduate Fellows, fellowship alumni and friends of the fellowship. The creation of the Self Graduate Fellowship was motivated by Madison and Lila’s belief in the vital importance of developing leadership for tomorrow. They are KU’s most generous private donors to date.

The mission of the Self Graduate Fellowship is to identify, recruit and provide development opportunities for exceptional doctoral students in business, economics, engineering, mathematics, biological, biomedical, pharmaceutica, and physical sciences who demonstrate the promise to make significant contributions to their fields of study and society as a whole. The Self Graduate Fellowship is a unique opportunity for doctoral students at KU to fund their education and acquire valuable leadership training for their future careers. Learn more about the fellowship.