Willis L. Lonzer, III, PH.D.

General President Willis L. Lonzer, III, Ph.D.  is a respected leader in the fraternity, business, and his community. He is an executive scientist with 22 years of global pharmaceutical research and development and global medical affairs experience. A native of Richmond, Virginia, he matriculated to Delaware State University, where he was a Charles Waples Scholar in chemistry and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a minor in German. While at Delaware State, he joined the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. through the Gamma Sigma Chapter on November 15, 1986.  After college, he attended graduate school, pursuing an interest in biomedicine. He holds the Doctor of Philosophy degree in biochemistry from The University of Akron, where he held a prestigious Patricia Roberts Harris Predoctoral Fellowship from the US Department of Education. After completing his doctoral studies, Dr. Lonzer was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Researcher in Physiology and Biophysics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Professionally, the last 23 years of his career have been within the biopharmaceutical medicine and biotechnology arenas, where he has held positions of increasing responsibility within global drug development and medical affairs of several major global pharmaceutical companies.  Dr. Lonzer has authored papers published in both refereed scientific and non-scientific journals as well as book chapters.  He holds or has held memberships in several professional societies, including the American Society for Human Genetics the American Chemical Society, National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, the Society for Critical Care Medicine and the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders.  Currently, Dr. Lonzer is an Executive Scientist and Regional Medical Director with a global biopharmaceutical company focused on rare and rheumatic diseases, with US Headquarters located in the Greater Chicago, IL area. 

In the community, Dr. Lonzer is a resident of Chicago, Illinois, and a member of the Greater Institutional AME Church of Chicago.  He is an active member of several fraternal organizations and social clubs including Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (The Boulé) and Prince Hall Masons. Within Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, he has been both a college and alumni chapter president, District Director of Ohio, Midwestern Regional Vice President, and member of the General Board of Directors of the fraternity. Currently, he serves as General President and Chairman of the General Board of Directors of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, leading all Alpha men globally. He holds the distinction of being only the 36th man to be elected General President in the 117-year history of the fraternity.  As General President, Dr. Lonzer is a member of the Council of Presidents of the National Panhellenic Council of the Historically Black Fraternities and Sororities, also known as the Divine Nine, where he serves as the Vice-Chair of the Council.  

In his spare time, some of his interests include, but are not limited to; photography, golf, boating, and cooking, where he has confirmed competencies in the kitchen and on the barbecue smoker and grill.  Lastly, but certainly not least, He is married and the father of two adult sons and one adult daughter.