Nontombi Naomi Tutu

Nontombi Naomi Tutu, an award-winning international human relations scholar, has been named a senior lecturer in economics at UNC Asheville for the 2007-08 academic year. Tutu will teach classes on topics ranging from education in Africa to gender and economic development in Third World countries.

Born in South Africa during apartheid, Tutu is the third daughter of Desmond and Nomalizo Tutu. She is an internationally recognized speaker and consultant on gender, race and international relations and is the founder of the Tutu Foundation, which provides scholarships and support to South African refugees.

Tutu holds a bachelor's degree in economics and French from Berea College and a master's degree in international economic development from the University of Kentucky's Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. Previously, she has taught at Brevard College and Tennessee State University.

Tutu holds awards and honors from a variety of organizations, including the California Legislature, Kentucky branches of the NAACP, Boston City Council, and Outstanding Youth Women of America.