Skegee Spotlight: Anthony E. Amerson
October 01, 2018
Anthony E. Amerson 鈥�90 says he credits his upbringing in the City of Tuskegee and pledging the Lambda Epsilon chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, as a model for understanding life鈥檚 challenges.
THE MAKING OF A 鈥楾USKEGEE GENTLEMAN鈥�
Amerson鈥檚 love for Tuskegee came at an early age as a native of Tuskegee and a second-generation Tuskegeean. Amerson studied in the Andrew F. Brimmer College of Business and Information Science and received his bachelor鈥檚 of science in accounting. He says he鈥檚 always valued the love the university has shown him and treasures Mother Tuskegee鈥檚 commitment to family and strong cultural ties.
Currently, he serves as a foreign service officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and has been with the agency for nearly eight years. Some of his responsibilities include implementing foreign assistance programs and funding by negotiating and executing contracts, handling cooperative agreements, and facilitating infrastructure and educational activities around the world.
鈥淚 am living my professional dream and relish any platform to profess my good fortune,鈥� said Amerson. 鈥淪ince the start of my tenure with the agency, I have personally awarded contracts and grants totaling more than $331 million to further USAID鈥檚 global mission of eradicating extreme poverty while promoting resilient and democratic societies,鈥� he explained.
Amerson says his agency鈥檚 development strategy also plays a vital role in maintaining our national security.
鈥淎s research has shown, many of the globe鈥檚 failing states become 鈥榤agnets鈥� for extremist organizations to take refuge and operate,鈥� he noted.
He broaches the idea that the reason failing states are attractive to extremist organizations is due to their inability to provide basic services to its citizens.
鈥淚 believe that providing development assistance is both far cheaper and most cost-effective than the use of military power for promoting stability,鈥� he emphasized. 鈥淥nce you place military boots on the ground in a country or region, you assume responsibility for reconstructing its nation, no matter how long that takes.鈥�
HONORING THE LEGACY
No matter the distance, Amerson says his love for Tuskegee runs deep, and he鈥檚 always looking for ways to impact the campus and community. Currently, Amerson is working on a project that honors his late father, Sheriff Lucius D. Amerson 鈥撯�� the first black sheriff elected in the south since reconstruction in Macon County. Amerson says for him, he learned much from his father, including to dream big.
鈥淚f one focuses intently enough good things are bound to happen,鈥� he said.
Because of his father鈥檚 legacy, Amerson says he wanted to show the riveting experiences his father faced as an officer in the then-racially segregated Macon County. To honor his father, Amerson donated artifacts to the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C.
鈥淭he museum is scheduled to open October 13 and will offer visitors a one-of-a-kind experience 鈥� the opportunity to walk in my father鈥檚 shoes and see what it鈥檚 like as a law enforcement officer,鈥� noted Amerson.
The museum will feature a world-class collection of more than 20,000 artifacts that depict American law enforcement in the context of historic events and pop culture.
鈥淭he museum will also display personal artifacts from my dad, such as his uniforms, badges, sunglass and Colt 45 revolver,鈥� he added.
NEXT GENERATION
Amerson says he wants to encourage all Tuskegee students to be marketable in every way possible and focus on learning a craft.
鈥淟earn your craft to the point where you are a subject-matter expert at what you do,鈥� he challenged. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e an expert in your field, you will gain a confidence that others will have to seek out.鈥�
Amerson says his deep roots are forever embedded in Mother Tuskegee, and he can鈥檛 wait to return home again.