Columbia University Enlists Mike Pompeo for Diplomacy Course Amid Controversy

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2025 — Columbia University has appointed former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to teach a course on public diplomacy and decision-making starting March 1. This initiative comes at a time when the university faces scrutiny over rising antisemitism on campus.

Pompeo will join the Institute of Global Politics (IGP) as a Carnegie Distinguished Fellow for a one-year term, which will last through February 2026. In a statement, Pompeo expressed his enthusiasm for the role, saying, “I am thrilled to join the Institute and to provide a unique voice defending traditional American values alongside the necessity to support our allies across the world.”

Keren Yarhi-Milo, dean of Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, emphasized the importance of engaging with diverse perspectives. “The Academy cannot be an ivory tower. We should engage with the world because we learn a lot from engaging with practitioners with differing positions and ideologies who also ultimately can learn from us,” she said.

Pompeo’s involvement is particularly noteworthy given the university’s recent challenges, including claims that it has permitted antisemitism to flourish following chaotic protests. “The United States’ greatest risk is that we refuse to teach the next generation about the greatness of our nation,” Pompeo remarked, reinforcing his intent to foster what he described as “fair, reasoned, and fact-based discourse.”

During his tenure as Secretary of State, Pompeo was a staunch ally of Israel and notably supported the controversial move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His record reflects a shift in U.S. policy regarding Israel’s West Bank settlements, which he controversially stated were not violations of international law.

Columbia has noted that Pompeo’s hiring was part of a long-term strategy to bring diverse voices to campus, rather than a response to political pressure. Nonetheless, recent incidents have heightened the scrutiny on the university’s handling of antisemitism. In January, some student activists disrupted history classes and targeted Jewish students, leading to disciplinary measures from the administration.

A university official stated, “The Institute of Global Politics at Columbia SIPA is honored to welcome former Secretary of State Pompeo to its current cohort of IGP Carnegie Distinguished Fellows.” During his fellowship, Pompeo is expected to meet with students and engage with faculty while contributing to ongoing policy initiatives.

Pompeo will join fellow former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who leads a course called “Inside the Situation Room” at IGP. Clinton, appointed chair in 2023, also faces criticisms from anti-Israel students who have protested outside her class. “The Institute fully endorses its mission, including its commitment to welcoming experts with a diversity of political perspectives,” a university official added.