Capitol Hill, May 15, 2026 – U.S. author K. Riva Levinson on Tuesday held a conversation with University of Liberia students to mark the 10th anniversary celebration of her book, “Choosing the Hero.”

Launched in May 2016, the book recounts Levinson’s early work as an advisor and supporter during former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s presidential campaigns – first at the 1997 election, where her main rival was former President Charles Ghankay Taylor, and later at the 2005 election, where her main rival was former President George Manneh Weah.

To coincide with the 10th anniversary, a print edition of the book is expected in bookstores soon at $20, while an e-book version is available for $10 on Amazon, Google Books, and it is also offered on Audible for $17.

Levinson’s book also explores Washington’s role in Liberia’s peace process and the funding arrangements that followed the civil wars. It covers 1996 to 2006, including events of then U.S. president George W. Bush ordering Taylor to leave power, Johnson- Sirleaf’s appearance before a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, and an epilogue focused on the Ebola outbreak.

During the conversation on Tuesday, she gave students the history of her work in Liberia and displayed copies of her famous book, Choosing the Hero, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

UL president highlights value of the anniversary lecture

During the conversation, University of Liberia President Dr. Layli Maparyan introduced Levinson to the students in the conference room of the Nathaniel Cassell building on Capitol Hill. President Maparyan said a 10th anniversary signals the lasting importance of a book, noting that many publications fade into obscurity.

“But her book is experiencing a renaissance at its 10th anniversary, and she just let me know she has another book coming out,” said President Maparyan.

She added that, as an educational institution, the university invites speakers for students to learn, describing Levinson’s story as both significant and historically grounded. “She has a very interesting history that is also historical in the bigger sense in its own right,” she told students.

President Maparyan also said Levinson’s work has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Washington Post, and NPR’s All Things Considered. She added that the author has managed complex policy engagements across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and South Asia, and that her Washington-based strategic advisory firm – KRL International – remains at the cutting edge of the evolution of U.S.-Africa and U.S. foreign policy, from developing economic corridors across the continent.

Levinson discusses Liberia’s political turning points

Addressing students, Ms. Riva Levinson said Choosing the Hero is exciting, and encouraged everybody to read it. Levinson said the book also talks about the funding for the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which was the court that held Sierra Leone’s criminals responsible.

She recalled that she was five months pregnant when she became an advisor to Sirleaf and her return to Liberia in 1997 to contest the presidential election that Taylor won.

She then described how instability spread across the subregion after Taylor’s victory, saying her work with Johnson-Sirleaf continued despite the setbacks. In her account, Johnson-Sirleaf returned to Washington repeatedly to press for continued U.S. engagement aimed at stabilizing the process and encouraging Taylor to depart. According to Levinson, peace was achieved in 2003.

Likewise, she said that ahead of the 2005 presidential election, many expected Weah – the soccer star – to win, but that when he failed to take the presidency in the first round, Johnson-Sirleaf ultimately assumed leadership following a run-off.

Hon. Cynthia Blandford praises the author

At the close of the event, Ms. Cynthia Blandford, chief executive officer of the International Focus Magazine and consultant to the university, praised Levinson for marking the book’s 10th anniversary.

“I’m waiting for my own copy. I’m excited to be here and to see Riva after so many years. Again, it’s my pleasure and my honor,” she said.