Chris
Light Maryland '90 currently
serves on the Management Team for the
USAID Dot-Com Alliance as Director of
the Access Award for the dot-ORG project
at the Academy for Educational Development.
This project works to incorporate information
and communication technology in government,
workforce development, environmental,
health, education, and economic growth
programs in developing countries. What
this means for these countries is access
to technology, resources and strategies
that will improve the way of life and
economic sustainability. |
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Chris has supported overseas information technology
efforts in more than 25 countries across the
globe since 1997. Most recently, Chris had the
opportunity to meet with the President of India
in January. Chris currently supports two US
Presidential initiatives: the Initiative
to End Hunger in Africa and the Digital
Freedom Initiative. Previously he served
as the Activity Manager for AfricaLink, an Africa-wide
initiative to bridge the digital divide for
scientists and researchers in order to help
them increase their research capacity.
Chris attended the University of Maryland where
he joined the "well-rounded" Delta
Sigma Phi chapter in 1990. Chris says he gained
strong financial and leadership skills serving
as chapter treasurer and in other leadership
roles. He also credits his fraternity experience
as the impetus that propelled him to get involved
elsewhere on campus with Student Government
and Senior Council and resulted in his appointment
to serve as a Commencement Marshall for his
graduation ceremonies in 1992 and 1993. While
at Boston University for graduate school, Chris
also served as class president and commencement
speaker at his graduation in 1996. All of this,
he says, has ties back to his growth in the
Fraternity.
As the son of US Foreign Service parents, Chris
lived in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Egypt as well
as the US by time he joined Delta Sig. Despite
this background, it wasn't until he was in the
chapter that Chris developed an interest in
public service with a desire to help alleviate
poverty. During that time he also gained a strong
appreciation for the value of education and
its importance in alleviating poverty.
He says that one of the most significant things
he learned from Delta Sig is the importance
of giving back or "paying the debt."
This is obviously exemplified in his choice
of careers, but Chris also became a member of
the 1899 Society just last year. He says he
was inspired to join as a result of all that
he has gained. "That choice to join the
1899 Society," he says, "was just
a part of giving back and I'm looking forward
to giving in many different ways as time goes
on." That's also one of the highlights,
he says, of his recent move to Indianapolis
where the Delta Sig headquarters is located.
Although Chris' career has him spending most
of his time traveling all over the world to
work on presidential initiatives and innovative
technology projects that have great significance
for the well-being of people in underdeveloped
countries, he still makes time for Delta Sigma
Phi. He's in regular contact with his chapter
brothers, reconnecting with them at weddings
and other events. He stays up-to-date with what's
going on with his chapter and he just returned
home from the National Convention in Austin,
TX where he and his wife Ellen attended the
1899 Dinner.
Since many of his Delta Sigma Phi experiences
contributed to his desire to go into international
development work, the impact that the Fraternity
has had is truly life-long for Chris. He believes
in "doing well by doing good" and
the way he spends his time today, he's doing
good for people around the globe, to end hunger,
to improve communications and technology, to
give people opportunities for work and economic
sustainability and to provide education for
those who would not otherwise have access to
it. He's certainly "Paying the Debt"
-- in more ways than one -- and making all of
us proud to call him a brother.
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