Dr. Lewis aims to continue collaborating with the private sector to establish sustainable value chains that benefit not only his clients but also the wider community.
WASHINGTON, DC, May 29, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- John Van Dusen Lewis, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Lewis recently embarked on a new role as a senior advisor at PHYLA earth in 2024. This position marks the latest step in a distinguished career dedicated to advancing regenerative agriculture practices. Working alongside a team of experts in their field, including ecologists, engineers, and practitioners across various backgrounds, Dr. Lewis provides insight into Anthro-centered economic development, regenerative agriculture, and related market opportunities.
Dr. Lewis both invested in, and served as a Managing Director of, Terra Global Capital, LLC 2006-2016. He helped found this expanding company to develop tradable greenhouse gas sequestration and storage "credits" from avoided deforestation, particularly of tropical forests, and re-forestation. His expertise in this domain grew out of both his training in "cultural ecology" (PhD Yale University 1979) and his 20 years (1980-2000) as a US Foreign Service Office in the Agricultural and Rural Development career track at USAID (US Agency for International Development). For the last six years of this tenure (1994-2000), he served as the Agency's Senior Agriculturalist directing its Office of Agriculture and Food Security. In that capacity by 2000, he advised on "climate smart agriculture" served on the US Delegation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Prior to assuming that senior USAID position in 1994, the Agency had seconded Dr. Lewis to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris (1990-1994) to serve as their representative to the Donor coordination "Club du Sahel" seeking policy coherence for all of their investments in food security, sustainable agriculture and desertification control in West Africa.
Prior to joining USAID's foreign service, Dr. Lewis taught African Studies at Howard University (1978-1981) and worked, back in Mali West Africa (1976-1978) for the Livestock Center of the Consultative Group for Inter Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Prior to enrolling for the doctoral program in Anthropology at Yale University(1972), he performed an alternative to military service (1970-1972) as a high school history teacher at the Bedford Stuyvesant Training Program for Young Mothers. During that time, in the evenings, he earned an M.A. in Cultural Anthropology at the New School for Social Research. His undergraduate B.A. (1969) came from Columbia University's Columbia College.
Adding to his professional endeavors, Dr. Lewis has been an active member of the American Anthropological Association, reflecting his deep engagement with socio-economic anthropology and its applications in agriculture and development. In addition to his professional endeavors, he is involved with several civic-minded organizations, such as the Metropolitan Club. This engagement reflects Dr. Lewis's commitment to community service and societal improvement.
Dr. Lewis attributes his success to his social skills, curiosity, and continuous pursuit of knowledge, which have enabled him to connect with diverse communities and stay at the forefront of his field.
Deeply committed to making a positive impact on a global scale, Dr. Lewis aims to continue collaborating with the private sector to establish sustainable value chains that benefit not only his clients but also the wider community. He is also penning his first novel, which reflects his insights into human nature and societal dynamics. Dr. Lewis's goal is to leave a legacy that will inspire future generations, including his grandchildren, underscoring his dedication to family and global betterment through sustainable development and agriculture.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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