A world famous human rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner is making a quick visit to the Valley Friday. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is speaking at James Madison University Friday night.

It took the school more than a year to get him to come. Desmond Tutu is a member of JMU's Gandhi Center advisory board, and the Archbishop specifically chose Friday for his visit because it's the International Day for Peace, a day in which his spirit personifies.

Largely inspired by Gandhi, Tutu is known for fighting for justice and peace in a non-violent manner.

"He is known as the premiere person who fights for human rights across the world, not only in the continent of Africa, but all over the world," says Keith May, the Assistant Director of the Gandhi Center.

Tutu, an Anglican bishop, became internationally known in the 1970s and 80s during his fight against the apartheid, a system that separated the races in South Africa. Shortly after this, Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

"His tireless efforts in fighting apartheid and eventual success, that would certainly have been his greatest achievement," says May.

The director of the Gandhi Center, Professor Suchil Mittal, at JMU says Tutu has the ability to bring everyone together..

"He is the moral voice for the 21st century," says Mittal. "He has been changing world history, continues to change world history."

While Tutu is still very active in human rights, he now has turned his attention to a different cause: the campaign against HIV.

"I think he will make greater accomplishments. He will have a greater impact in the years to come," says Mittal. "He has just started. He's 76-years-old. He has just started."

Friday at the Gandhi Center, Tutu will participate in a tree planting. And the public is invited to come to his speech at 7 o'clock Friday night at JMU's Convocation Center.