Professor Angelina Jolie? Actor to teach at London School of Economics

Angelina Jolie said she was looking forward to “teaching and to learning from the students as well as to sharing my own experiences of working alongside governments and the United Nations.”

Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie Pitt will deliver guest lectures and participate in expert workshops after being appointed a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics (LSE).

Angelina Jolie was named as one of four new “visiting professors in practice” who will contribute to a new master’s programme on “women, peace and security” at LSE.(REUTERS)

The United Nations special envoy for refugees is among four new visiting professors at LSE, the others being William Hague, former foreign secretary, Jane Connors of Amnesty International Geneva, and Madeleine Rees, secretary- general of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Read: UN envoy Angelina Jolie is visiting Greece to meet war-fleeing refugees

They will be part of LSE’s Centre for Women, Peace and Security, and will join other LSE fellows, scholars, activists and practitioners dedicated to developing strategies to promote gender equality and enhance women’s economic, social and political participation and security.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Special Envoy Angelina Jolie looks on as she meets Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, in March.

Jolie Pitt said: “I am very encouraged by the creation of this master’s programme. I hope other academic institutions will follow this example, as it is vital that we broaden the discussion on how to advance women’s rights and end impunity for crimes that disproportionately affect women, such as sexual violence in conflict”.

“I am looking forward to teaching and to learning from the students as well as to sharing my own experiences of working alongside governments and the United Nations”.

Christine Chinkin, director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security, said: “Bringing practitioners, policy makers and activists together with scholars is essential in advancing knowledge and influencing global and local policy making”.

The centre was launched in February 2015 by Hague and Jolie Pitt in their capacities as co-founders of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

A statement said that LSE confers the title of Visiting Professor in Practice on persons who have appropriate distinction within their area of (non-academic) practice. It includes individuals who have achieved prominence in public service, or who have attained distinction in their profession and through their practical experience.