Edward E. Elson

(1934 - )

Edward Elson is the former Ambassador of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Denmark, serving from 1993 through 1998. After leaving that post, he served director of Atlantic American Corporation from 1998 to 2015. Elson was a business entrepreneur with activities focused primarily in the retail sales business. Before launching a chain of gift shops, he operated bookstores in shopping malls starting in 1963.

Elson has served as trustee for more than a dozen universities and organizations, including Phillips Academy in Andover, Brown University, Hampton University, Talladega College, Hebrew Union College, Spelman College, Brenau University, and The Game Conservancy. He was a Rector at the University of Virginia and served as the first chairman of National Public Radio and the National Public Radio Foundation. He is a past chairman of the Atlanta Jewish Committee and the Jewish Publication Society.