The Lucas-Kennedy Foundation

A Tribute to Alan C. Alemian
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Alan C. Alemian devoted his life to serving others. From his early days as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda to his later role as Associate Director in Sierra Leone, and through his distinguished career with Africare spanning more than three decades, Alan exemplified the best of international development—humility, integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to improving lives.

Joining Africare in the 1970s, Alan helped shape the organization's growth and influence across sub-Saharan Africa. Rising to Director for East and Anglophone West Africa and later Regional Director, he helped shape Africare into one of the continent's most respected development organizations. His leadership was measured not by the size of the programs he managed, but by the countless lives they transformed and the dedicated professionals he inspired along the way.

Alan guided groundbreaking initiatives in public health, agriculture, food security, and humanitarian assistance. Under his leadership, the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program in Uganda improved the health of more than 31,000 children and nearly 48,400 women. He supported large-scale ivermectin distribution campaigns to combat river blindness in Nigeria and provided strategic leadership to health and development programs across Africa. Whether serving as Regional Director or as Acting Country Representative in Sierra Leone and South Africa, Alan remained steadfast in his belief that sustainable development begins with listening to communities, respecting local knowledge, and building partnerships rooted in trust.

During conflict and humanitarian crises, Alan's leadership shone through. Throughout Sierra Leone's civil war, he helped guide Africare's emergency response, ensuring that vulnerable families received food, medical care, agricultural support, and hope during some of the nation's darkest days. His calm judgment, compassion, and unwavering resolve comforted those in need and gave confidence to those privileged to work alongside him.

Yet Alan's greatest legacy extends far beyond the programs he directed or the titles he held. He had a rare ability to make everyone feel valued. His generosity of spirit, intellectual curiosity, quick wit, and warm sense of humor transformed colleagues into lifelong friends. He led not through authority, but through respect, encouragement, and quiet example. He mentored a generation of development professionals who carried forward the principles he embodied: excellence, humility, service, and humanity.

Alan was deeply proud of his Armenian heritage and lived according to its enduring values of perseverance, compassion, resilience, and community. These qualities shaped both his professional life and his personal relationships. To many, he was more than an accomplished development leader—he was a trusted advisor, a generous mentor, and a cherished friend whose wisdom and kindness enriched countless lives.

A life's measure is found not only in what one accomplishes, but in the lives one touches. Alan C. Alemian touched thousands across Africa and inspired generations of colleagues in the United States and around the world. His legacy lives on in healthier communities, stronger institutions, and in the many people who continue his life's work because he first believed in them.

Alan’s dedication to his work was surpassed only by his love for his son. As a child, Alan’s son traveled with him to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo, where witnessing his father’s work firsthand broadened his horizons. Their close friendship grew over the years through hikes in Maryland and West Virginia, including outings to Sugarloaf Mountain, Clarksburg, and Germantown, as well as whitewater rafting trips in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Alan and his son were lifelong companions and friends. In Alan’s later years, his son became his full-time primary caregiver, and they continued to enjoy nature walks, scenic drives, and visits with friends from Africare and the Peace Corps. His son loved and respected Alan deeply and cherishes their many shared memories.

Those of us who had the privilege of knowing Alan will remember him not only for his extraordinary professional achievements, but for the grace with which he lived, the dignity with which he served, and the humanity he shared so freely. His life was a blessing. His example will remain an inspiration. His memory will endure with profound gratitude, deep respect, and enduring affection.

Isaiah Butler (Senior):

Hospitality & Tourism Management Major (Minor: Japanese), Multiple global scholarship recipient, including the Boren Award, Gilman Scholarship, UN-UNA Fellowship, and Freeman-ASIA.

Serenity Primus (Junior):

Business Marketing major. UMES Miss Junior (2026–2027) and an initiate of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Adrian Harrison (Junior):

Aviation Science major with a concentration in Professional Pilot. STEM STARS and Honors student, member of The Vanguard, and Vice Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi. Dean’s List and Departmental Distinction recipient from Fall 2024 through Spring 2026.

Leila Roz (Junior):

Aviation Science major with a concentration in Professional Pilot. Private Pilot License holder with an Instrument Rating and a Dean’s List honoree every semester.