The Lucas-Kennedy Foundation

Guided by Experience. Commited to Africa

The Lucas-Kennedy Foundation for African Development is led by a distinguished board of leaders whose lifelong dedication to international development has improved lives across the African continent. With deep expertise and unshakable purpose, they steward a legacy of impact and chart a bold path forward.

McDonald C. Homer
CHAIRPERSON & FOUNDING MEMBER

McDonald C. Homer is a veteran Foreign Service Officer formerly with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). His assignments included Namibia, Bangladesh, Liberia, Afghanistan and South Sudan. He began his international development career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia and later worked with Africare in Zambia, Malawi, and South Africa, as well as with the USDA, the University of Florida, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology. He holds degrees from Rutgers University, Iowa State University, the National Defense University, and the University of Miami, including a doctorate in Applied Learning Sciences.

Michael P. Carson

VICE CHAIRPERSON & FOUNDING MEMBER

Michael Carson has led non-profit organizations for nearly ten years and has served as a catalyst for community building since serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya. Michael is a passionate advocate for economic development and critical infrastructure, including regenerative agriculture, health, education and adult literacy, renewable energy and access to clean water in emerging economies. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, an MBA from Clark Atlanta University, a BA from the University of Denver, and a certificate in nonprofit management from Stanford University’s Social Innovation Review.

Kevin M. Clements

TREASURER & FOUNDING MEMBER

Kevin Clements is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta Georgia. After graduation he joined the US Peace Corps where he served as a volunteer in Swaziland (now called Eswatini). He was Africare’s representative in Zimbabwe. Kevin has spent over 15 years living and working across Africa in various roles and sectors including rural development, telecommunications, oil, gas and tourism.

Musu Clemens

SECRETARIAT DIRECTOR & FOUNDING MEMBER

Musu Clemens is a governance and Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) expert with over 20 years of experience leading peacebuilding, stabilization, and community resilience programs across Africa and South Asia. She has served in senior leadership roles with the Peace Corps, UNICEF, and USAID, and was Africare’s Country Representative in Liberia. Ms. Clemens holds a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, is fluent in English and French, and has managed high-level U.S. government–funded programs in the Sahel and beyond.

Adam P. Kennedy
ADVISOR & FOUNDING MEMBER

Adam P. Kennedy is a journalist, writer, and historian committed to storytelling and cultural preservation, with a global perspective shaped by his early life in Africa and Europe. Through his platform, Legacy Life Books, he has spent more than 30 years documenting voices of dignitaries, veterans, and thought leaders, conducting over 1,000 interviews. Nationally recognized for co-writing the Obie Award-winning play Sleep Deprivation Chamber with his mother, playwright Adrienne Kennedy, he continues to champion memory and social justice by using storytelling to honor lives and inspire future generations.

Laurin Banner

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST & FOUNDING MEMBER

Laurin Banner is an international development expert with over 25 years of experience advancing economic growth, agriculture, and employment initiatives across Africa. He has led USAID- and OPIC-funded programs in countries including Malawi and Liberia, managed over $191 million in donor funding from organizations such as USAID, UNDP, and the World Bank, and held senior roles with the World Bank, Bechtel Oil and Gas, and USAID in Afghanistan. Holding a Master’s in Urban Planning from MIT and an MBA from Northeastern University, Laurin is recognized for his strategic leadership and cross-sector impact, as well as his pioneering service as the first male Director of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs.

Eldridge "Skip" Gilbert Jr.
ADVISOR & FOUNDING MEMBER

Eldridge “Skip” Gilbert, Jr. is a lifelong advocate for education, global service, and community empowerment. A former Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone and Africare leader in Malawi, his career has spanned business, education, and international development—advancing refugee relief, food security, agribusiness, and health while mentoring youth and strengthening schools at home in Rockford, Illinois. Rooted in the legacy of his parents, Rev. Dr. E.H.E. Gilbert, Sr. and Irene Gilbert, he carries forward a family tradition of faith, justice, and service alongside his wife, Theresa Paulette Gilbert, and their four children.

Forrest Patrick Branch

AGRIBUSINESS ADVISOR

Forrest Patrick Branch is a seasoned agribusiness advisor based in Windhoek, Namibia, with more than 30 years leading developments across Africa’s SADC region. He’s cofounder and MD of Kolagri SARL, a Kolwezi, DRC commercial grain storage facility and flour mill startup. He has designed and led major projects for USAID and served as Africare Country Director in Namibia. He is a TEDx Johannesburg speaker, advisor to the IFC, World Food Program, and Lualaba Province, DRC. He holds degrees in quantitative economics, development, and an MBA in corporate finance and strategy. His skill set includes financial modeling, capital raising, and he continues to shape the region’s agricultural sector, serving as investment committee chairman of Namibia’s state pension backed, VC fund.

Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr.
BOARD MEMBER

Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. is a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service who has served as U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, the Philippines, and Bangladesh. Over his distinguished career, he has held senior leadership roles including Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources at the U.S. Department of State. A champion of diplomacy, diversity, and international cooperation, Ambassador Thomas continues to mentor the next generation of global leaders.

Dr. Robert J. Jones
BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Robert J. Jones is the 34th President of the University of Washington and a distinguished crop physiologist. A first-generation college graduate from Georgia, he previously served as Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and President of SUNY Albany, leading major fundraising, access, and innovation initiatives. He holds degrees from Fort Valley State, the University of Georgia, and the University of Missouri, and is committed to advancing excellence, equity, and global impact in higher education.

Dr. Antony Chan
BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Antony Chan is a seasoned international development leader who served as USAID Mission Director in Liberia, guiding major programs in health, governance, and economic growth during a pivotal post-conflict period. Over his distinguished career, he has held senior roles with USAID across Africa and Asia, shaping U.S. foreign assistance strategies and strengthening partnerships with governments and civil society. Today, Dr. Chan continues to contribute thought leadership on Aid 2.0, global development policy, and U.S.–Africa cooperation.

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