Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, has been appointed professor of practice in the department of international and public affairs at Columbia University in the US. Julie-Anne Barnes reports.
Mrs Robinson, who will also teach a course on human rights and globalisation, takes up her position next week.
Ireland's former president has been credited during her career with highlighting and improving global crises. As UN High Commissioner, she visited regions of conflict including Sierra Leone, Chechnya and the former Yugoslavia.
The president of Columbia University, Mr Lee C. Bollinger, said Mrs Robinson was "one of the most dynamic world leaders of our times, a true humanitarian who has spent her career advancing human rights and the principles of inclusiveness. She will be a tremendous resource and an inspiration," he added.
As well as holding the position of professor of practice, Mrs Robinson will also serve as an adviser to Columbia's Earth Institute and as a senior research scholar at Columbia Law School's Human Rights Institute.
In October 2002, Mrs Robinson launched the Ethical Globalisation Initiative (EGI) to promote a more ethical and equitable globalisation process, and will continue as its executive director.
"We are thrilled to welcome Mary to our faculty," said Dean Lisa Anderson, School of International and Public Affairs.
"Our students will benefit immensely from Mary's hands-on work in many of the world's most volatile areas."