WASHINGTON: Former US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton has been appointed as the first female Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast, it was announced on Thursday.
Clinton, who received an honorary doctorate from Queen's in October 2018, will become the University's 11th Chancellor and will serve in the post for a period of five years with effect from January 1, 2020, the university said in a statement.
Queen's University Belfast, which is a public research university in Belfast, United Kingdom, was opened in 1849 and is one of the leading universities in the UK and Ireland with a distinguished heritage and history.
The 72-year-old former Democratic presidential nominee said it was a great privilege to be appointed as the Chancellor of the prestigious Queen's University and has a great fondness for it.
"It is a great privilege to become the Chancellor of Queen's University, a place I have a great fondness for and have grown a strong relationship with over the years. 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 was quoted as saying in the statement.
University's authorities praised Clinton's appointment to the institution's top post. Stephen Prenter, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Senate, the University's governing body, said: "I am delighted that Queen's has chosen Hillary Clinton to be its new Chancellor".
"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," he said.
The Chancellor fulfils three main roles, a ceremonial one which involves presiding at degree congregations, an ambassadorial role, where the officeholder helps to 'open doors' for the University as it seeks to fulfil its mission and finally as an advisor, available to the Vice-Chancellor and senior management as a 'sounding board' and to provide counsel and guidance, the statement said.