UW-Madison Emeritus Professor Gregg Mitman received the award of Knight Commander, Humane Order of African Redemption, one of the highest honors conferred by the Republic of Liberia. The distinguished honor was given by the President of the Republic of Liberia in a ceremony on July 24, 2025, celebrating the country’s 178th Independence Day. The award recognizes individuals for outstanding humanitarian acts. For decades, Professor Mitman has conducted research in the the fields of public health and history, contributing to global health advocacy and collaborating with Liberians communities, scholars, and institutions.
Professor Mitman’s recent work includes award-winning film The Land Beneath Our Feet, a book entitled Empire of Rubber: Firestone’s Scramble for Land and Power in Liberia (2021), and public history website liberianhistory.org, exploring the history and legacy of the Firestone Plantations Company in Liberia. His justice-drive research explores the intersections of ecological, social, political, and economic forces in West Africa and amplifies Liberian voices and perspectives in particular.