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Hillary Clinton to become SIPA professor, Columbia World Projects presidential fellow
By Kat St. Martin / Senior Staff PhotographerSecretary Hillary Clinton recently visited campus in November for a “get out the vote” women’s rally in the Diana Center Event Oval.By Isabella Ramirez • January 5, 2023 at 4:15 PM
By Isabella Ramirez • January 5, 2023 at 4:15 PM
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will join the Columbia community in February as a professor of practice at the School of International and Public Affairs and a presidential fellow at Columbia World Projects, University President Lee Bollinger announced in an email Thursday.
Clinton will work with senior faculty and administrators at SIPA including Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo on various initiatives, with a focus on global politics and female leadership, Bollinger wrote. Alongside Wafaa El-Sadr, executive vice president of Columbia Global and director of Columbia World Projects, and CWP deputy director for research & engagement Ira Katznelson, Clinton will support programming regarding democracy and the engagement of women and youth in the United States and abroad.
Her appointment comes after the Columbia University College Democrats hosted a “get out the vote” women’s rally in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection in November in the Diana Center Event Oval featuring Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris, among others, as speakers. The event drew protests from some Republicans and left-wing protestors, who criticized the presence of the Democratic figures on Barnard’s campus.
Clinton has a long history of ties to the University, most recently as an honorary doctorate recipient at the 2022 Commencement ceremony. She came to speak at the University twice in 2019, once for a rally to promote the Reproductive Health Act and another time to discuss Russian interference in global democracy with Bollinger. In 2015, Clinton was the keynote speaker for the 18th Annual David N. Dinkins Leadership and Public Policy Forum held in Low Library.
“There is work to be done to ensure justice, equality, freedom, and yes, to preserve and protect democracy,” Clinton said when receiving her honorary doctorate.
Responding to calls from graduates and guests for a speech, and with a nod from President Bollinger, honorary degree recipient and former U.S. Secretary of State @HillaryClinton shared impromptu remarks with the Class of 2022 at Columbia’s Commencement ceremony. #RoarLions2022 pic.twitter.com/Z99eplK8T7
— Columbia University (@Columbia) May 18, 2022
Bollinger wrote it is with “great delight and pride” that he announces that Clinton will be joining Columbia and sharing her “capacities, experience, and wisdom” with the institution.
“Given her extraordinary talents and capacities together with her singular life experiences, Hillary Clinton is unique, and, most importantly, exceptional in what she can bring to the University’s missions of research and teaching, along with public service and engagement for the public good,” Bollinger wrote. “I expect us all to benefit immeasurably from working with her in the months and years ahead.”
University News Editor Isabella Ramírez can be contacted at isabella.ramirez@columbiaspectator.com. Follow her on Twitter @isabellasrmrz.
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