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Down through the centuries extensive bonds have developed – cultural, industrial and academic – and there are many strong and vibrant connections at work today.
Queen’s is proud of its connections with the United States – our researchers are collaborating on projects which have the capacity to change the world in areas as diverse as health, environmental sustainability and electronics.
American staff and students help to create a cosmopolitan campus at Queen’s and many Northern Irish students have honed their leadership skills during internships in the US, including posts in Congress and the White House.
To mark their achievements Queen’s has honoured many Americans and Irish-Americans. Among the most famous is former President Bill Clinton, who was the first serving president to visit Northern Ireland in 1995. He continued to return to Northern Ireland on a number of occasions and on May 2001 he received an honorary degree from Queen's for his contribution to the peace process.
That same process was facilitated by Senator George Mitchell in his role as United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. For 10 years, from 1999 to 2009, he was Chancellor of Queen’s, actively promoting the University around the globe which included helping secure funds which have been invested in staff, students and facilities.
Others to receive honorary degrees include Dr John J DeGioia, President of Washington’s Georgetown University, which has a strong partnership with Queen’s, formalised in 2006. Since then academics from both universities have crossed the Atlantic to collaborate on joint research projects and academic programmes in areas ranging from cancer research to law, politics, history and creative writing.
Other academics honoured in recent years are organic chemist Professor Amos B Smith III; Dr Martin Murphy, a leading American adviser to academic cancer research centres, pharmaceutical companies and governments worldwide and Professor Paul Anastas, who was honoured for his work in green chemistry.
Professor Donald Harman Akenson, regarded as the preeminent historian of Ireland based in north American; leading Irish-American businesswoman Sheila O'Malley Fuchs; Belfast-born David Perry is globally recognised as a leading figure in the electronics games industry and actor Liam Neeson, have all also been honoured.
Other dignitaries to visit the University are US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who took part in a visit in October 2009. She was accompanied by Declan Kelly, the US Special Economic Envoy, who also made a solo appearance on campus in February 2010 to meet with business students studying entrepreneurship and visit the University's Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology.