James T. Laney

James T. Laney "is president emeritus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the co-chair of the Council on Foreign Relations Task Force on Korea. From 1993 and 1997, Ambassador Laney served as the United States ambassador to the Republic of Korea. He played a key role in defusing the North Korean nuclear crisis in 1994 and won high honors from the United States and Korean governments for his distinguished service. During his tenure at Emory, the University came to be ranked among the best in the United States. He has also served as dean of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and taught at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. His recent publications include articles in Foreign Affairs, "How to Deal with North Korea," and The New York Times, "Talking is Better Than Fighting." Ambassador Laney is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees from institutions in the United States, Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom. He holds a B.A., M.A., and a Ph.D. from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut."

"He is a past director of The Coca-Cola Company and SunTrust Georgia. From 1997-2003 he co-chaired the Council on Foreign Relations Task Force on Korea.

"Laney’s articles have appeared in Foreign Affairs, the New York Times, the Washington Post and numerous other publications. He is the recipient of 22 honorary degrees from colleges and universities in the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Korea, and Africa. He has received medals for distinguished service from the United States and Korea, the Wilbur Cross Medal from Yale, the Emory medal, and the General James van Fleet award from the Korea Society.

"Laney is married to Berta Radford with whom they have five children and sixteen grandchildren."


 * Trustee, Carter Center
 * Director, Henry Luce Foundation
 * Former Director (1999 at least), CARE USA