Angelina Jolie will not be a visiting professor at Georgetown… at least not yet

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I didn’t even see this story last week, but apparently it was widely discussed. Us Weekly claimed that Angelina Jolie would be spending time in Washington, DC either this year or next because, they claimed, she was going to be a “visiting professor” at Georgetown. This piece of gossip did not come out of left field. Back in May, we learned that for the 2016/17 term, Angelina would be a visiting professor at the London School of Economics. The LSE is where Jolie and William Hague set up their new Centre on Women, Peace and Security, and Jolie’s visiting professor gig is part of that: she will be giving lectures and participating in workshops about refugees, women’s rights and more. Considering Georgetown and LSE are sister colleges/partners, it would make sense if Jolie would also have some sort of visiting-professor status at Georgetown, which is what Us Weekly and Vanity Fair claimed a few days ago. Alas, it’s not happening. At least not yet.

Sorry, Georgetown University students – you will not be reporting to Professor Angelina Jolie Pitt this fall. Despite reports that the 41-year-old star will be a visiting professor at the famed Washington D.C. private college the university denied the claim to PEOPLE.

“We enjoy a partnership with the London School of Economics as part of that work, where Angelina Jolie and William Hague are scheduled to teach a class in the fall,” Rachel Pugh, a representative for the university told PEOPLE. “There are no current plans for Ms. Jolie to teach at Georgetown.”

It was announced in May that Jolie Pitt will be joining the London School of Economics as a visiting professor for the new master’s degree course on women, peace and security for the 2016-2017 school year. She will teach alongside British politician William Hague.

“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,” Jolie Pitt previously said in a statement. “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.”

Pugh says both Jolie and Hague are welcome to come teach stateside as well.

“Angelina Jolie and William Hague have an open invitation to share their experiences and perspectives at Georgetown anytime they’re able.”

[From People]

So, Angelina and William Hague won’t be going to Georgetown any time soon. Which… is sort of a non-story, at least to me. Then again, I didn’t think the “Angelina will be a visiting professor at LSE” would be a huge story, but it was. Angelina has been making these moves for years: she’s not content to just do work with the UNHCR, her aim has broadened over time. She wants to change the conversation around refugees and victims of war, genocide and more. She wants to change how younger people are educated about those issues and proactive about those issues. It shouldn’t be controversial that Jolie will be a visiting professor at LSE, nor should it be controversial if she decides to lecture at Georgetown.

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Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

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27 Responses to “Angelina Jolie will not be a visiting professor at Georgetown… at least not yet”

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  1. Colette says:

    Tabloids including US Weekly rarely get anything right concerning The Jolie-Pitts.

  2. Freddy Spaghetti says:

    The Washington Post had a short piece about this. It ran along the lines of “Nope, not happening here.” To be fair, Georgetown has had some real problems recently, ranging from debate over how slaves who built the campus were treated to a sexual harassment case that spans decades. So I don’t know if they have the resources available to deal with a celebrity teaching.

    • tracking says:

      I’m also not sure G’town would have the interest in a celebrity teaching. A Jesuit institution not known for flash.

      • Emma - The JP Lover says:

        @Tracking, who wrote: “I’m also not sure G’town would have the interest in a celebrity teaching. A Jesuit institution not known for flash.”

        She wouldn’t be teaching there as a ‘celebrity’ … should would be teaching and a U.N. Ambassador. Just like celebrities who attend colleges/universities … they do so as students, ‘not’ celebrities.

      • Lady Mimosa says:

        She would be there as a ‘celebrity’ considering she has no real education, it doesn’t matter about being a UN Ambassador, that’s for celebrities.

    • Katherine says:

      Georgetown has plenty of resources – financially speaking. Can’t even imagine why this would be a problem. Eventually I’m sure this will happen when it fits everyone’s schedule.

  3. Sarah says:

    As great as the humanitarian work she’s done is, she isn’t a professor…….?

    • manda says:

      Who, but the institution they are teaching at, decides who calls who a professor? Seems to me people can get honorary degrees and doctorates. She has a lot of experience that I’m sure would be edifying and intellectually stimulating

      • FingerBinger says:

        Getting honorary degrees and doctorates isn’t fair either. Half the people that get them don’t deserve them.

      • Esmom says:

        I hear you FingerBinger, but do you think those people who get the honorary degrees actually try to use them/list them on their resume? I can’t imagine anyone doing that…but I guess anything’s possible.

    • Catelina says:

      She’s a guest ‘professor’, giving a seminar based around (most likely) sharing her field experiences and what she’s learned from them with students. An official professor title is hardly necessary for that.

    • TheOtherSam says:

      The correct term for her role/appointment is actually “Guest Lecturer”, since to be a Visiting Professor (at a US institution anyway) you would need to already have an official faculty appointment at another accredited institution.

      AJ although very knowledgeable in her field does not have the academic background or credentials to be given a “Professor” appointment, anyplace. Those are reserved for those who have obtained full academic creds (PhD or MD for medical schools, in most cases, or at least a Masters) and completed sufficient time at a lower appointment teaching or researching full time. This I know from years working in academia myself.

      Guest Lecturer at either LSE or Georgetown is still very prestigious for Angie. She would be a big get at either institution given her field experience and profile.

      • Sarah says:

        Thank you for posting an explanation – I was busy and couldn’t check back.

        Professor isn’t just a title handed around, as said above.

        I guess lecturer could do but that still does denote a form of academic training/standing. Perhaps Guest Speaker? It’s disrespectful to those who studied long and hard and spent thousands of dollars to earn their degrees.

        She has hands-on experience and I am sure has read about some things too but she hasn’t studied the field so it is not right to suggest she has. Someone with her background may provide good insight into this topic, but students are also there to learn from proper professors!

  4. Bowers says:

    Mother of god, look at Camilla’s dress.

    • Carmen says:

      I try not to look at Camilla or her dresses. There is only so much my eyes can tolerate.

  5. Liz says:

    Her title should be guest speaker not professor. Big difference!

    • Tw says:

      YES! Agree 100%

    • greenleaf says:

      Or instructor…If we’re being technical about it. Professor is a very high title and is reserved for fully tenured faculty. Even Assistant and Associate Professors are to be addressed as Dr., not Professor.

  6. Liz says:

    I also have issues with people being awarded honorary degrees. A degree should be earned by people who have put in the time and effort to get their asses to school or via online.

    Celebrities are successful in their own right and that’s why they can win Oscars, Grammys, etc. The general public cannot be awarded an honorary Grammy.

    • Megan says:

      Honorary degrees are to get big name commencement speakers without having to pay them.

  7. Ravensdaughter says:

    Is Camilla wearing a nightgown?

  8. sofie says:

    Angelina didn’t ask for the professor title, yet as usual all the hate is being thrown at her. She is more than qualified to discuss the topic of sexual violence in war zones on a course she co created. If the professor title offends you, then take it up with LSE instead of blaming Angelina.

    • kay says:

      sofie, angelina made it rain yesterday…i think she also might be behind the last hundred years of any and all issues, but don’t quote me on that…the LSE chose the title because angelina specifically asked them to so she could generate all kinds of outrage.
      i see what she is doing.
      ;p
      Lol.

    • TheOtherSam says:

      @sofie not critiquing AJ at all. The ‘Visting Prof’ title was most likely mis-reported by the media or press, or perhaps mis-represented by LSE’s media department. She is of course qualified to discuss the topics given her years of field work and high profile.

      The actual title means little to the general public, as it should. It means a lot more to those in academia many who strive for years/decades to obtain rank or tenure. Getting to the Professor level is a very big deal and to that segment the distinction is important.

    • Sarah says:

      Wow Sofie! You need to chill.

      Noone has ezpressed anything even close to “hate”. She shouldn’t be called a professor because she isn’t one, it doesn’t matter what else she has done. Let’s start calling people who take a science class doctors shall we?

      It’s not a problem with AJ herself, but the title she has been given but not earned. Fingers crossed the media has misreported this as it’s a slap in the face to real professors and academics.

    • LoveIsBlynd says:

      I’m not at all throwing “hate” on Angelina Jolie. However, as a single parent who has gone to hell and back for a degree, I would resent an institution for using the incorrect term for a person without a degree. “Guest speaker” is more accurate, or perhaps “guest lecturer” as I have no doubt she has experience in both the field and is used to addressing an astute audience. I also didn’t see any comments directing anything negative towards her per se.

  9. mssnarnd says:

    Georgetown University offers some of the most comprehensive cancer rehabilitation / follow-up services in the world.

    Maybe she is there for reasons other than becoming a quasi-professor, and has agreed to speak upon request.