Annalena Burbock becomes a professor in New York
Former German Foreign Minister and current President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, will teach at Columbia University in New York after her term ends. Her partnership with the university is for three years.
Annalena Berbock to take up professorship in New York
On August 24, Table Briefings reported, citing sources in the German Alliance 90/Greens party, that Annalena Berbock will take up a teaching position at Columbia University after her term as UN General Assembly president ends. Berbock is still a member of the Greens.
According to media reports, she will co-direct the Master of Public Administration in Global Leadership program at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
The DPA agency notes that this is a practice-oriented professorship and not a classic research chair.
Berbock's collaboration with Columbia University is planned to last three years. She is also expected to teach classes and give public lectures as an invited lecturer.
Annalena Berbock said she enjoyed moving from Germany to New York after taking office as President of the UN General Assembly.
According to her, in New York, a person can “get lost” in the diversity of the city. Berbock also noted that this situation sometimes gives her great relief.
Berbock has been serving as President of the UN General Assembly since September 2025. However, this position is not permanent - the President of the General Assembly is elected for a one-year term.
Although candidates can theoretically be re-elected, internal procedures at the UN, in particular the practice of nominating candidates on a regional rotation basis, do not allow for the same person to serve two consecutive terms.
In early September, Berbock’s powers will be transferred to the representative of Bangladesh, Khalilur Rahman. Like Berbock, he previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of his country.
Annalena Baerbock is not the first German politician to pursue academic work in the United States after serving as German Foreign Minister.
Former German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer also took a similar path. Fischer served as German Foreign Minister from 1998 to 2005 and, like Baerbock, was a member of the Green Party.