Hillary Clinton appointed chancellor of Belfast's Queen's University

Rebecca Speare-Cole2 January 2020

Hillary Clinton has been appointed chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast.

The 2016 US presidential candidate was given the mainly ceremonial role on Thursday.

Mrs Clinton becomes the first female chancellor of the 175-year-old university after she was awarded an honorary degree in October 2018.

During her time as US Secretary of State from 2009-2013, Mrs Clinton visited Belfast on several occasions to support the fragile 1998 Good Friday peace accord, which her husband Bill Clinton helped broker.

Northern Ireland's peace process became one of the greatest successes of Mr Clinton's presidency.

The agreement largely ended 30 years of violence between Catholic nationalists seeking union with Ireland and Protestant unionists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK.

Mr Clinton's hands-on approach at moments when the agreement looked like crumbling was widely recognised as crucial.

"It is a great privilege to become the Chancellor of Queen's University, a place I have great fondness for and have grown a strong relationship with over the years," Mrs Clinton said in a statement.

"The university is making waves internationally for its research and impact and I am proud to be an ambassador and help grow its reputation for excellence," she added.

Stephen Prenter, Queen's pro-chancellor, said he was delighted by the appointment.

He added: "Secretary Clinton has made a considerable contribution to Northern Ireland and as an internationally recognised leader will be an incredible advocate for Queen's and an inspirational role model for the Queen's community."

Former US Senator George Mitchell, who as US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland chaired the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement, served as chancellor of Queen's from 1999 to 2009.

Mrs Clinton becomes the university's 11th chancellor.

The role, which she will hold for the next five years, involves presiding at degree congregations and acting as an ambassador and advisor for the university, according to Queen's.

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