Carlton McLellan, Ph.D., is a diplomacy and international affairs expert and researcher. He is founder of The American Ambassadors Project, which he oversees while currently serving as a Senior Fellow with the Association of Black American Ambassadors (ABAA). The American Ambassadors Project incorporates Dr. McLellan’s data collection and research and is the first comprehensive attempt to educate and report on the contributions of Black Americans as U.S. Ambassadors. His work and archival collections are among the most comprehensive with the sole focus on Black American U.S. Ambassadors.

In addition to his research roles, Dr. McLellan has also worked or held consultancies with international organizations such as the United Nation’s International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the U.S. & Canada, and the World Bank as well as large and small internationally-focused nongovernmental organizations such as Global Ties U.S., FHI 360, WorldChicago; and, universities such as Howard University, the University of Pretoria, and the University of Fort Hare (the latter two in South Africa). He has authored several scholarly articles and book chapters in a broad cross-section of international affairs areas, but his current research interests are the contributions of Black Americans to U.S. foreign and diplomatic relations, with a focus on Black American U.S. Ambassadors.