The Future of Humanitarian Aid: ​Tackling Food Insecurity in the 21st Century and Beyond

Fall 2026 Harry ’51 and Joshua ’49 Tsujimoto Perspectives in Global Development and the Environment Seminar Series

About the speaker

From his family farm, the state house, and Governor’s mansion in South Carolina, to the capitals and war zones around the world, David Beasley has led a life of service, compassion and leadership. David Beasley entered public service at age 21, when he was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. During his years of service in the State House, he became chair of key committees, House Majority Leader and Speaker Pro Tempore.
 

In 1994, he was elected Governor. In this role, he set out an aggressive government reform agenda focused on education, tax reform, social welfare, economic development, infrastructure, and criminal justice reform. Throughout, his agenda was underpinned by the timeless values of equality and freedom. In what became his final year as Governor, he sought to remove the Confederate flag from the capitol dome. Months later, despite having lost the election, Governor Beasley said, “We did the right thing … at the right time … in the right way — therefore, we were successful.”
 

He left the Governor’s office in 1999, and continued to make significant contributions in South Carolina and across the U.S. Governor Beasley began a decade of building relationships with foreign leaders, inviting those from conflict ridden countries to his family farm to help foster peaceful dialogues.
 

Nominated by American presidents of both parties, he served as Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme from 2017 to 2023, raising over $55 billion and assisting millions of starving people in more than eighty nations. As global conflict and the global pandemic plunged more people into extreme poverty, Beasley raised funding levels from $6 billion/year to over $14 billion, in order to feed 160 million people. In 2020, WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to combat hunger and conflict around the world and make peace. Governor Beasley gave the Nobel lecture in Oslo on behalf of the organization.
 

Today, Governor Beasley has turned his attention back to the domestic with the Breaking Bread Together initiative, through which he helps facilitate dialogues to overcome political division and address critical policy topics in American communities.
 

He holds a B.S. from Clemson University and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina.He is married to Mary Wood Payne, and together they have four children and five grandchildren.

Abstract

About the seminar series

The Harry ’51 & Joshua ’49 Tsujimoto Perspectives in Global Development and the Environment Seminar Series showcases innovative approaches to development with experts from around the globe. Each year, the series attracts online registrants from over 45 countries and more than 350 organizations. 

Seminars are held Wednesdays from 12:20-1:10 p.m. Eastern time during the semester in 175 Warren Hall. Students, faculty and the general public are welcome to attend in-person or via Zoom.

The series is co-sponsored by the Sections of Global Development and Natural Resources and the Environment and the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management as part of courses GDEV 4961, AEM 4961, NTRES 4961, GDEV 6960, AEM 6960, and NTRES 6960.