Our Team
Founding Director
Dr. Carlton McLellan (Ph.D.), is a senior diplomacy and international affairs professional and researcher. He is the Founding Director of The American Ambassadors Project and a Senior Fellow with the Association of Black American Ambassadors (ABAA). Dr. McLellan’s long-time research interest in Black contributions to diplomacy and foreign affairs led to his founding The American Ambassadors Project, which is the first comprehensive attempt to compile, organize, and report on the lives and contributions of Black Americans who have held the title and rank of U.S. Ambassador. In his 25+ year career in addition to his current work, he has also held research fellowships at educational institutions in South Africa and at the Association of Diplomatic Studies & Training (ADST); worked or consulted at nonprofit, citizen diplomacy-focused agencies such as FHI 360, Global Ties U.S., the Academy for Educational Development (AED), the Institute of International Education (IIE), Meridian International Center, and WorldChicago, all managing U.S. Department of State public diplomacy programs; and at multilateral agencies such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank.