William J. Foltz ’57

Bill died Oct. 27, 2013, at his home in New Haven.

While at Princeton, he majored in French and was active in the International Relations Council. He roomed his senior year with Charlie Ellis.

Upon graduation, Bill attended Yale University, where he earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in international relations. He became a faculty member in the political science department in 1962.

Africa became the chief emphasis of his work. In 1960 he secured a Ford Foundation grant for 15 months in West Africa to study the Mali Federation. In 1964 he returned to Senegal to study local politics.

Bill was director of the Yale Center for International and Area Studies from 1983 to 1989. He also developed Yale’s offerings in African studies and was chair of the department of political science from 2004 to 2005.

Bill sought to “cross boundaries” and understand the nature of political power. He especially valued meticulous fieldwork. He co-authored Arms and the African (Yale University Press 1985). He advised the Clinton administration’s African policy, consulted with the Rand Corp. and the Department of State, and served on the National Intelligence Council. He was a senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations.

He is survived by his wife, Anne-Marie; sons Peter and Jeremy; and grandchildren Miranda and William.