United Nations Ambassador meets with Global Scholars Program

Linda Thomas-Greenfield discusses her life of service, offers dip lomacy advice to students

Friday, Feb. 17, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda omas-Green eld HON ’23 met with students in the Global Scholars program, a collaboration between the Washington Center and the Global Research Institute. George and Mary Hylton Professor of International Relations and Director of GRI Michael Tierney led the delegation. e students are currently enrolled in Tierney’s course, “Politics and Policy of International Organizations.” e meeting took place in the basement of Kaplan Arena after omas-Green eld received an honorary degree from the College of William and Mary and gave a keynote address at the annual Charter Day ceremony.

“You know, I’m from Virginia,” omçen eld said to e Flat Hat. “I say I’m from Louisiana. I grew up in Louisiana, but I retired in Virginia before I came back to government service. My family lives here. My kids live in Virginia. And I’m just honored that this state, my state, would honor me with an honorary doctorate. So when I was asked, I was elated and had no doubts that I would say yes.”

During her Charter Day speech, omas-Green eld emphasized the moral and collective responsibilities we have towards the world’s most poverty-stricken communities. Noor Scavotto ’24 asked her what moment in her diplomatic career changed her thought process and made her reconsider her moral bearings.

“My life has changed in 1994, during the Rwandan genocide,” omas-Green eld said. “I fortunately or unfortunately, was there and was a witness to the genocide. I saw the power of our voice and I saw us not using that power. And 800,000 people were killed. And so I changed my entire approach to diplomacy. I came away from that feeling very, very strongly that when you’re in crisis, you need a leader who’s going to make a

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