Vivian Lowery Derryck is Founder of The Bridges Institute, a non-profit to strengthen African governance, democracy and economic development. A former lecturer at New York City Technical College and the University of Liberia, and consultant to Chevron, Derryck served as Deputy Assistant Secretary (State), Assistant Administrator for Africa (USAID), president of the Africa-American Institute, vice president of the National Democratic Institute and Senior Advisor of the Africa Leadership Forum (former Nigerian President Olusegsun Obasanjo).

A graduate of Chatham College (BA), Columbia University (MIA), Harvard (Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies), Derryck’s work has been recognized with African Union’s African Women of Excellence Award and as Knight of the National Order of Mali.