Kinkaid “Lit a Fire in Me”

Adam Ereli ’79 credits his Kinkaid Interim Term travel with providing the inspiration that has led to a distinguished career in public service and international affairs. "I took two trips—one to Europe and one to the Soviet Union. Those journeys changed my life. They opened my eyes to how at least a part of the rest of the world lives. They lit a fire in me that still burns to this day—a curiosity and passion for international affairs and cross-cultural communication. And I married a Russian woman, who is the best thing that ever happened to me. So thanks, Kinkaid, for laying the groundwork on that one."

After graduating from Yale University in 1982, he lived in Paris, France, and worked as a journalist and human rights activist until 1985. He then studied at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and graduated with a master's degree in international relations in 1989. His career of public service began when he entered the United States Department of State as a foreign service officer in 1989, serving at embassies in Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia, Qatar, and Iraq and serving as Deputy Spokesman of the State Department and U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain from 2007 to 2011. He retired from the State Department in 2013. Kinkaid recognized his outstanding service and dedication to our country by awarding him the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014. Currently, he operates the international affairs consulting firm he founded, IberoAmerican Consultants, in Washington, D.C.

Through the years, Adam has witnessed the School evolve. "I'm pleased to see that Kinkaid has become more connected to the world beyond Houston and Texas. The involvement of distinguished alumni and outside speakers who can bring fresh ideas and perspectives to students is really important. Beyond that, diversifying Kinkaid has and should continue to be a top priority. In my day, there were only a handful of non-white students in the entire Upper School. Kinkaid's leadership understands that no school can provide a first-in-class education if it remains a sheltered bastion of white privilege, and that is a very positive development."

He cherishes the many friendships he made at Kinkaid that continue to enrich his life and adds there are many things that make the School a special place. "The quality, passion, and dedication of the teachers—they were determined to help the students learn and sincerely cared about their welfare."

He fondly remembers the many excellent teachers he had but noted that "looming over everyone were John Cooper, Kinkaid's Headmaster, and his wife Dorothy. They imparted to the whole school a level of dignity and integrity, an unwavering commitment to excellence and probity that—frankly—has been sorely lacking in so many of our public institutions of late.

"I also think that the size and intimacy of Kinkaid provide a great environment for learning. It's large enough to offer variety and diversity but not so big that students get lost. It's also important to appreciate the quality of Kinkaid's campus: the buildings, grounds, classrooms, libraries, athletic facilities, and technology. It was not until I left Kinkaid and saw what the rest of the world had to offer that I realized how good we had it there. It really is first-class."

His feelings for the School inspired Adam to make provisions in his estate plan for Kinkaid. "I did it to honor my parents, Ruth and Eli. They were both teachers—Mom at Kinkaid and Dad at University of Houston Law School. For them, scholarship and learning were everything. They devoted their lives to it. They worked and saved and sacrificed so that their kids could benefit from it. And they left us better off as a result. So, to those whom much is given, much is expected. It is only right and proper for us to give back to Kinkaid and to do our small part to help others enjoy the blessings that it has bestowed on our family."

Even though Adam has an impressive list of achievements, he humbly feels his greatest accomplishments are "being a not-so-bad husband, son, brother, step-father, and grandfather." In his leisure time, he "likes to exercise (but not maniacally), play with my dog (obsessively), cook (simply), eat and drink (moderately), and hang out with family and friends."

Like Adam, you can ensure future generations experience all that Kinkaid has to offer with a gift in your estate plan. To learn more about your options, contact Lisa Wood at (713) 243-5023 or lisa.wood@kinkaid.org.