Princeton N. Lyman is the Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and formerly held the Ralph Bunche Chair for Africa at the Council . He is a former U.S. ambassador to South Africa and Nigeria and former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. He directed the Council–sponsored Task Force More Than Humanitarianism: A Strategic U.S. Approach Toward Africa .  He has expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa; economic development; democratization and elections; civil reconstruction; conflict prevention; global governance; United Nations; and HIV/AIDS.

Lyman served as Executive Director of the Global Interdependence Initiative, Aspen Institute (1999-2003) and as a Senior Fellow, United States Institute of Peace (1999-2000). Ambassador Lyman received the President's Distinguished Service Award and the Department of State Distinguished Honor Award.