Hillary Clinton was announced today to be the new Chancellor of Queen’s University, Belfast, coming into immediate effect.
The former US Secretary of State will be the university’s first female Chancellor. She succeeds Dr Tom Moran, who died last year.
Mrs Clinton will serve for a period of five years. She received an honorary doctorate from Queen’s in October 2018 and said in a statement that the appointment is a “great privilege” as the university is “a place I have great fondness for and have grown a strong relationship with over the years”.
The Chancellor’s main role is a ceremonial one, which involves presiding at degree congregations. The role also includes acting as an ambassador for the university, helping to “open doors” for it abroad.
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Mrs Clinton will also act as an advisor to the vice-chancellor Professor Ian Green and senior management, providing counsel and guidance.
She has spent almost five decades in US public service as an advocate, attorney, First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State. Her connection to Northern Ireland stretches back over twenty years.
She first visited Northern Ireland as First Lady in November 1995 with her husband, US President at the time, Bill Clinton. They met representatives and peace campaigners from across the community and also switched on Belfast's Christmas lights.
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After stepping down as US Secretary of State in 2013, Mrs Clinton is most recently known for being the Democratic candidate to lose the 2016 Presidential election to Republican Party candidate Donald Trump.
Mrs Clinton recently told the BBC that she was "under enormous pressure" to challenge him in next year's election.
In a statement the university added that “she focused on economic development to underpin the emergence of a strong and competitive Northern Ireland and, during her time as First Lady, made a considerable contribution to the Northern Ireland Peace Process.”
Mr Stephen Prenter, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Senate - the University’s governing body - stated that Mrs Clinton “will be an incredible advocate for Queen’s and an inspirational role model for the Queen's community.”
