Ralph Bunche

“May there be freedom, equality and brotherhood among all men. May there be morality in the relations among nations. May there be, in our time, at long last, a world at peace in which, we, the people, may for once begin to make full use of the great good that is in us.” —From Dr. Ralph J.Bunche’s Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Address December 19, 1950

A scholar, educator, civil rights advocate, and world statesman, Dr. Ralph J. Bunche achieved international renown as the first person of color to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. As United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General, Bunche is considered by many to be America's greatest contributor to the UN, specifically in the areas of decolonization, peacekeeping, and human and civil rights. Bunche was among the distinguished leaders of the Phelps Stokes Fund, having served as a member of the Board of Trustees for over twenty years.

He was the quintessential international public servant. The values which Bunche brought to his work as a scholar, activist, and international leader provide members of the Ralph Bunche Societies with a roadmap and moral compass to guide them through their academic and professional careers.