EMELIA TIMPO
Dr. Emelia Timpo, a seasoned development expert, brings a wealth of experience in agriculture, HIV/AIDS, gender, and educational policy to the table. With a distinguished career spanning 17 years in leadership roles within the United Nations, including with UNAIDS and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Dr. Timpo has honed her skills in project management, monitoring and evaluation, and policy development. Hailing from Ghana, she holds a PhD from Rutgers University, alongside degrees from Cornell University and New York University. Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Timpo remains deeply engaged in academia, volunteering with international NGOs and lecturing on global development at Nyansapo College in Ghana. She is also known for her entrepreneurial spirit, having founded Timpo Travel and is recently the author of her memoir PERSEVERANCE. In her unwavering pursuit of professional excellence and personal fulfillment, she not only inspires with her dedication but also delights in the simple joys of cooking and adventuring with her loved ones.
This is the Ghanaian Adinkra symbol for Perseverance.
“This book is a page-turner, written with such vivid descriptions of the various places she lived and travelled, that the reader is transported to these places and times. Her struggles and triumphs, described with remarkable honesty and courage, provide insight to the strong women in her lineage, and their ability to raise strong, resilient women. With the support of Emelia’s mother, grandmother, aunties and extended family, one can see how adversity in early life, when experienced in the midst of strong family love and support, can actually form the foundation for success in adulthood. This book is a must-read for our young folk, especially our high achieving young women. Thank you for sharing your story with such candor, allowing us to glean the many lessons, and pearls of wisdom sprinkled through your remarkable journey. Congratulations on a life well-lived, and a fine memoir to inspire our youth.”
“Story after compelling story unfolds as the author reveals, with endearing detail, her growing-up years in Ghana. Until she was 30, married with two children and a PhD, her horizons were limited only by her ambition and persistence. Then, because she was black and in the United States, many doors were slammed shut. How she succeeded, by reinventing herself at every turn, is a tale told with warmth, humor, and honesty.”
“Dr. Timpo’s book is a must read for everyone who has overcome difficult challenges in life. From the depths of despair to being a professor, a successful career at the UN, and, now, a great author. This book is highly recommended.”
