The Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Liberia, and Co-chair of the Board of Trustees, Grand Kru Technical College, Associate Professor Dr. Josephus M. Gray, on Wednesday, 8 August 2023 paid a courtesy visit to the Diplomatic Staffs at the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in Paris, Republic of France.
During the visit at the Embassy located at 12 Place du General Catroux, Paris, Dr. Gray praised the diplomatic officers particularly Mr. Francis R. Grant, Minister Counselor, and Chargé
d’Affaires a.i, and Madam Tracy Ashley Grigsby, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary-designate for their continuing service to the state, particularly in their current positions.
Dr. Gray encouraged Mr. Grant and the diplomatic officers to keep up the fantastic work in projecting the nation’s image globally, especially in France and Western Europe.
According to the Dean of Amos Sawyer College, it’s incredible to see Liberian diplomats consistently pushing the nation’s foreign policy and international relations. “ Mr. Grant, thank you for the warm reception and hospitality accorded me this afternoon.”
Dr. Gray used the visit to inform the diligent diplomatic officers that it’s incredible to be back home at the Embassy of Liberia, adding that “I had the opportunity to work with different groups of people for about five years as Political Counsellor at this Embassy and pleased with my services here, it was rewarding to work at this strategic diplomatic mission in France.
According to Dr. Gray, his service and days at the Embassy in Paris were rewarding and not in vain, as he took advantage of the opportunity to pursue his praiseworthy Ph.D. studies in International Relations and Diplomacy which prepared him for future challenges and the competing job market. He, therefore, strongly encouraged the diplomatic officers to make use of the added advantage to be bilingual and pursue higher education in various disciplines in Paris.
I am most grateful to all those who stood by me and supported me during my doctorate studies in Paris particularly former Liberian Ambassador to France, His Excellency Dr. William Allen; former Ministers of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, and Her Excellency Mrs. Olubanke King-Akerele. He made particular reference to the former President of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for her financial support towards his studies in Paris and service in the foreign mission of Liberia, and praised President George M. Weah for his appointment as Co-chair of the Board of Trustees of Grand Kru Technical College.
It could be recalled that Dr. Gray previously served as Political Counsellor, Embassy of Liberia in Paris, Charge’d Affairs, Liberia Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other Organizations, Geneva, Switzerland. He also served as Assistant Foreign Minister for Public Affairs and Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs prior to moving into academia to render his service at the University of Liberia Graduate School.
Dr. Gray used the visit to brief the Liberian diplomats on the new trajectory of the Amos C. Sawyer College particularly the University of Liberia, and requested Mr. Grant to convey his high esteem and best wishes to His Excellency Mr. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemaya Sr, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia for this able leadership and achievements.
Recounting the numerous achievements, Prof. Gray said since Dr. Nelson took over the affairs of the institution, almost four years now, the flagship university has prestigiously positioned itself on a path of new academic trajectory, thus propelling itself far above redemptive glamour, instead elected to strengthen ties and collaboration at all echelons with emphasis on academic and development that benefiting the entire institution and the country in particular.
Dr. Gray informed Mr. Grant that the Amos C. Sawyer College will be pleased to hire competent and qualified Liberians from France to render professional teaching services in the Department of French Studies and other disciplines across the College.
According to Dr. Gray, the College contains 286 faculty of which 21 persons are Ph.D. holders while 220 are holders of master’s degrees or double master’s degrees of which 56 faculty members are females. He disclosed that under his leadership, over 100 part-time faculty and staffs have been employed as full-time employees as well as other several staffs, thus praising the President of UL Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson, Jr. for the numerous support towards Sawyer College.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Grant, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. welcomed Dr. Gray to the Embassy and thanks him for the visit, with the unique sentence: Welcome back home. He expressed appreciation for the level of new progress at Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities under Prof. Gray’s leadership.
Speaking further, he encouraged Dr. Gray to keep doing a fantastic job at the college. The warm visit concluded with the introduction of the diplomatic officers and local staffs to the visiting Dean of Sawyer College. Press Release
