ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF
Name: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Born: 29 October 1938 Monrovia, Liberia
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born October 29, 1938) is the current president of
Liberia, Africa's first elected female head of state and Liberia's first elected
female president. The Liberian elections commission announced her victory on
November 23, 2005, following the 2005 election. She is the second elected black
woman head of state in the world and also second female leader of Liberia after
Ruth Perry (who assumed leadership after an overthrow), and the fourth such head
of government after Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Sylvie Kinigi of Burundi and
Agathe Uwilingiyimana of Rwanda. She is often referred to as the "Iron Lady".
Her grandfather was a German who married a rural market woman. The grandfather
was forced to leave the country during the war in 1917.
Two of Johnson-Sirleaf's grandparents were indigenous Liberians. Her father, the
son of the Gola Chief Jahmale and Jenneh, one of his many wives, was born in
Julejuah, Bomi County. As a result of her grandfather's friendship and loyalty
to President Hilary Richard Wright Johnson and on the advice of the President,
her father was brought to, his name changed to Johnson and he was given to the
settler family, McCritty.
Johnson-Sirleaf graduated from the College of West Africa (Monrovia), a United
Methodist high school. She received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the
University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. in 1964, an economics
diploma from the University of Colorado in 1970, and a Master of Public
Administration from Harvard University in 1971. She is a member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a social action organization and the first
collegiate sorority founded by and for Black women (1908).
On 05 November 2007, President George W. Bush awarded Johnson-Sirleaf the Medal
of Freedom, the highest civilian award given by the United States.
Name: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Born: 29 October 1938 Monrovia, Liberia
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born October 29, 1938) is the current president of
Liberia, Africa's first elected female head of state and Liberia's first elected
female president. The Liberian elections commission announced her victory on
November 23, 2005, following the 2005 election. She is the second elected black
woman head of state in the world and also second female leader of Liberia after
Ruth Perry (who assumed leadership after an overthrow), and the fourth such head
of government after Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Sylvie Kinigi of Burundi and
Agathe Uwilingiyimana of Rwanda. She is often referred to as the "Iron Lady".
Her grandfather was a German who married a rural market woman. The grandfather
was forced to leave the country during the war in 1917.
Two of Johnson-Sirleaf's grandparents were indigenous Liberians. Her father, the
son of the Gola Chief Jahmale and Jenneh, one of his many wives, was born in
Julejuah, Bomi County. As a result of her grandfather's friendship and loyalty
to President Hilary Richard Wright Johnson and on the advice of the President,
her father was brought to, his name changed to Johnson and he was given to the
settler family, McCritty.
Johnson-Sirleaf graduated from the College of West Africa (Monrovia), a United
Methodist high school. She received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the
University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. in 1964, an economics
diploma from the University of Colorado in 1970, and a Master of Public
Administration from Harvard University in 1971. She is a member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a social action organization and the first
collegiate sorority founded by and for Black women (1908).
On 05 November 2007, President George W. Bush awarded Johnson-Sirleaf the Medal
of Freedom, the highest civilian award given by the United States.