Thomas Tlou
Encyclopedia
Thomas Tlou was a Botswana
academic and historian, and former representative of Botswana at the United Nations
.
Tlou studied at Luther College
, Johns Hopkins University
, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in the United States
. In 1971 he joined the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland,(UBLS), the fore-runner of the University of Botswana
, to teach history. He left academia to perform government service and from 1976 to 1980 was Botswana's permanent representative at the United Nations.
Tlou was the first Motswana
(Botswana citizen) to be vice-chancellor of the University of Botswana, serving from 1985 to 1998. Thereafter he continued at the university as professor of history, finally retiring in 2005.
Tlou was also chair of the Association of Commonwealth Universities
and served on the executive board of the Association of African Universities
. In Botswana he served on the Tertiary Education Council and he was chair of the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis.
He was married to Professor Sheila Tlou
, Botswana's minister of health from 2004–2008 and a former associate professor of nursing at the University of Botswana.
He also received the Botswana Presidential Order of Honour, and was made a Chevalier dans L'Ordre des Palmes académiques
by France.
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
academic and historian, and former representative of Botswana at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Tlou studied at Luther College
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1971 he joined the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland,(UBLS), the fore-runner of the University of Botswana
University of Botswana
The University of Botswana, or UB was established in 1982 as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university has four campuses: two in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. The university is divided into six faculties: Business, Education,...
, to teach history. He left academia to perform government service and from 1976 to 1980 was Botswana's permanent representative at the United Nations.
Tlou was the first Motswana
Motswana
Motswana is the singular form of "Batswana". It may be:* a person from the Tswana ethnic group in southern Africa* a citizen of Botswana of any ethnic background...
(Botswana citizen) to be vice-chancellor of the University of Botswana, serving from 1985 to 1998. Thereafter he continued at the university as professor of history, finally retiring in 2005.
Tlou was also chair of the Association of Commonwealth Universities
Association of Commonwealth Universities
The Association of Commonwealth Universities represents over 480 universities from Commonwealth countries.- History :In 1912, the University of London took the initiative to assemble 53 representatives of universities in London to hold a Congress of Universities of the Empire...
and served on the executive board of the Association of African Universities
Association of African Universities
The Association of African Universities was established in 1967 to facilitate co-operation between its members and with the international academic community. It is based in Accra, Ghana...
. In Botswana he served on the Tertiary Education Council and he was chair of the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis.
He was married to Professor Sheila Tlou
Sheila Tlou
Sheila Dinotshe Tlou is a Botswana specialist in HIV/AIDS and women's health, and a nursing educator. She was Minister of Health from 2004 to 2008.-Education and career:...
, Botswana's minister of health from 2004–2008 and a former associate professor of nursing at the University of Botswana.
Awards
In 2006 Tlou was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape TownUniversity of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
He also received the Botswana Presidential Order of Honour, and was made a Chevalier dans L'Ordre des Palmes académiques
Palmes académiques
The Ordre des Palmes Académiques is an Order of Chivalry of France for academics and cultural and educational figures...
by France.