Annalena Baerbock reportedly to become professor at Columbia University

Germany's former Foreign Minister and outgoing UN General Assembly President, Annalena Baerbock, is reportedly preparing for a new role as a professor at Columbia University in New York. Media reports suggest the Green Party politician will join the university in the fall as a Professor for Global Leadership and Co-Director of the Master of Public Administration in Global Leadership program.

Sources indicate the collaboration with Columbia University is planned for three years. Baerbock's lectures will reportedly focus on international political leadership, with the position described as practice-oriented rather than a traditional research professorship. The program is designed for executives with at least ten years of professional experience.

Baerbock's tenure as President of the UN General Assembly, which began in September 2025, officially concludes on September 8. She was elected to the one-year post with a significant majority, becoming the fifth woman to lead the assembly. Her successor will be Khalilur Rahman from Bangladesh.

During her term, Baerbock advocated for strengthening the United Nations, promoting women's rights, climate action, and sustainable development. She also focused on international approaches to artificial intelligence and the selection process for the next UN Secretary-General, calling for a transparent and inclusive process and supporting the idea of a female leader for the organization.