Former Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga has been named one of three spring 2008 visiting fellows by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics.
The two-term president, who spent much of her adult life as an exile and professor in Canada, will spend April 14 through the end of May meeting with students, leading discussions on topical issues and interacting with faculty, the institute announced in an April 2 press release.
Vīķe-Freiberga was president of Latvia from 1999-2007 and was the first woman to hold the position. Jim Leach, director of the Institute of Politics, described Vīķe-Freiberga as “one of ‘new’ Europe’s most distinguished former heads of state.”
The institute is part of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at the Cambridge, Mass.-based university.
The other two visiting fellows are author and political advocate Elizabeth Edwards and religious leader Andrew White. Edwards is the wife of former presidential candidate and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards. White is president and CEO of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, vicar of St. Georges Church Baghdad, and Anglican and Episcopal chaplain of the International Zone Baghdad.
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President Freiberga will be an outstanding fellow at Harvard University. GREAT news!
We are thrilled to host President Vike-Freiberga at Harvard! I will be sure to forward announcements to this site on any public lectures that we organise for her on campus.
Harvard is very fortunate to host President Vike-Freiberga. She is one of the classiest yet personable & accessible world leaders.