Yale SOM and Yale Divinity School to Jointly Coordinate Seminar on Faith and Globalization led by former Prime Minister Tony Blair

Yale University President Richard C. Levin announced that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has been appointed the Howland Distinguished Fellow for the 2008-2009 academic year. Mr. Blair will lead a seminar on faith and globalization to be jointly coordinated by the Yale School of Management and the Yale Divinity School.

In commenting on the appointment, Yale School of Management Dean Joel M. Podolny said: "At the Yale School of Management, we put tremendous emphasis on values-based leadership. Therefore, we are doubly thrilled that the former Prime Minister will be joining Yale as a Howland Fellow. I anticipate that his course will focus on an important dimension of values-based leadership; and he himself has embodied that model of leadership in his life and his career."

Below is the text of the Yale University release on Prime Minister Blair's appointment:

CONTACT: Helaine Klasky
203.432.1333; helaine.klasky@yale.edu

For Immediate Release: March 7, 2008

Prime Minister Blair to Teach at Yale

New Haven, Conn. — Yale University is pleased to announce the appointment of Prime Minister Tony Blair as the Howland Distinguished Fellow for the next academic year.

Mr. Blair will lead a seminar at Yale and participate in a number of events around the campus. The course in which he will participate with Yale faculty will examine issues of faith and globalization. His efforts at Yale relate to the work of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation that he will be launching later this year.

The Deans of the Yale School of Management and Yale Divinity School are working with Mr. Blair on finalizing details of the program.

The Howland Distinguished Fellowship was created in 1915 to recognize a “citizen of any country in recognition of some achievement of marked distinction in the field of literature or fine arts or the science of government.” Among those who have been Howland Distinguished Fellows in the last century are the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, journalist Sir Alistair Cooke and stateswoman Indira Gandhi.

Yale President Richard C. Levin stated: “The appointment of Mr. Blair provides a tremendous opportunity for our students and our community. As the world continues to become increasingly inter-dependent, it is essential that we explore how religious values can be channeled toward reconciliation rather than polarization. Mr. Blair has demonstrated outstanding leadership in these areas and is especially qualified to bring his perspective to bear. We are honored that he is planning to join the Yale community.”

Tony Blair continues to be active in public life. He has many interests, principally his Middle East role for the USA, UN, Russia and EU as the Quartet Representative, helping the Palestinians to prepare for statehood as part of the international community’s effort to secure peace. He will also be launching the Tony Blair Faith Foundation later in 2008. The foundation will promote understanding between the major faiths and increase understanding of the role of faith in the modern world.

Mr. Blair served as Prime Minster of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007.

For more Yale University press releases visit: http://www.yale.edu/opa.