Action Against Hunger USA CEO to receive inaugural James T. Morris Humanitarian Award at 10th ARW: Hamilton Lugar School : Indiana University

Charles E. Owubah, chief executive officer of Action Against Hunger USA, has been named as the inaugural James T. Morris Humanitarian Award recipient. He will accept the award on Friday, April 11 during the tenth annual Hamilton Lugar School (HLS) America’s Role in the World (ARW) conference.

The award was created to honor the legacy of Indiana University (IU) alumnus and longtime trustee James T. Morris who died in July 2024 after a lifetime of leadership and service. Morris held a variety of leadership positions, including vice chair of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, chief of staff to Indianapolis Mayor Richard G. Lugar, president of the Lilly Endowment, chairman and CEO for IWC Resources Corp. and Indianapolis Water Co., and executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme.

“Jim Morris was a distinguished humanitarian leader and exemplary IU alumnus,” said HLS Dean John Ciorciari. “He made a significant global impact as director of the United Nations World Food Programme from 2002-2007, in addition to his many public contributions to Indiana.”

According to a tribute to Morris from the UN World Food Programme (WFP), “He successfully guided WFP in carrying out what was then the largest humanitarian operation in history, providing food assistance to some 26 million Iraqis in 2003-2004. Under his leadership WFP was also one of the key responders to the Indian ocean tsunami.”

“When creating an award, we wanted to recognize someone with an ongoing impact on world hunger issues,” said Ciorciari. “Therefore, the Hamilton Lugar School is pleased to present the inaugural James T. Morris Humanitarian Award to Dr. Charles E. Owubah, chief executive officer of Action Against Hunger USA.”

Owubah assumed his position at Action Against Hunger USA in May 2019. In this role, he is the head of the executive team based in Washington D.C. which provides leadership and strategic direction to more than 1,800 staff across eight countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia, and Haiti. Action Against Hunger’s mission is to end global hunger and save lives by preventing, detecting, and treating malnutrition. The organization’s impact is immense – it served more than 21 million people in 55 countries in 2024.

Owubah brings a wealth of expertise to his role. He earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management from Purdue University, then served as an academic and consultant on food aid management before spending nearly 20 years at World Vision.

The James T. Morris Humanitarian Award will be presented to Owubah on the second day of the 10^th annual America’s Role in the World Conference, April 10-11 in the Hamilton Lugar School’s Shreve Auditorium, 355 N. Eagleson Avenue in Bloomington, Indiana

The ARW conference is an annual nonpartisan event which convenes diplomats, journalists, politicians, and scholars to offer expert insight on critical global affairs topics. At prior ARW conferences, various awards have been presented to recognize significant contributions to the global common good. Global Voices for Change Awards have been presented to Oleksandra Matviichuk, human rights lawyer and co-recipient of the Nobel Prize; Wai Wai Nu, Rohingya Burmese activist; and Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joe Gebbia, the co-founders of Airbnb. A Richard G. Lugar Award was presented to presented to Amb. (ret.) Marie L. Yovanovitch, former ambassador to Ukraine (2016-2019), Armenia (2008-2011), and Kyrgyzstan (2005-2008).

Visit the America’s Role in the World website today to register, review the schedule, and learn about our guests.