英語(yǔ)名人堂：埃倫·約翰遜·瑟利夫

埃倫·約翰遜-瑟利夫 (Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf) ，2006年1月16日當(dāng)選利比里亞總統(tǒng)，成為非洲歷史上首位女總統(tǒng)。作為一名女權(quán)主義者， 2011年10月7日，瑟利夫與活動(dòng)家萊伊曼-古博薇及也門活動(dòng)家塔瓦庫(kù)爾-卡曼因維護(hù)婦女權(quán)益共同獲得2011年度諾貝爾和平獎(jiǎng)。

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born 1938) became President of Liberia in 2005. She was Africa's first ever elected female head of state. She has the nickname “Iron Lady” because of her iron will and determination. She also actively campaigns for women’s rights. Before taking office as president, she worked for the World Bank and was vice president of Citibank Africa.

Johnson Sirleaf went to the top schools in the Liberian capital Monrovia. She was a very bright anddiligent student. Her family moved to the USA, where she got her Bachelor’s degree inaccounting. She had a head for figures. In 1971, she graduated from Harvard University with a Master’s in Public Administration. She was now equipped to help her poor country.

Ellen returned to Liberia and worked hard in several government positions and soon became Assistant Minister of Finance. In 1980, a coup forced Johnson Sirleaf into exile in Kenya. She returned home to run for the Senate in 1985. However, when she spoke out against the military regime, she was put in prison. After her release, she fled to America.

She returned to Liberia in 1997 to run in the presidential election. She got only 10% of the votes. She continued to play an active role in politics. She contested the 2005 elections and beat her rival, the soccer player George Weah. She wants Liberia to “become a brilliant beacon, an example to Africa and the world of what love of liberty can achieve”.