Our Chancellor reflects on US election results with University community

12 November 2024

Our Chancellor, Dr Fiona Hill, met with staff, students and friends of the University as they came together to discuss the US election results and their wider significance, both domestically and for foreign policy in the US, the UK, and Europe.

Acclaimed international foreign policy expert Dr Hill led an engaging and thought-provoking panel conversation, followed by audience questions, on Friday 8 November 2024 at Mount Oswald Hub. It was very well attended by more than 200 people, 100 students and 100 staff, mostly academic.

This event was the second opportunity of its kind for members of the University community to meet with Fiona and engage with her in an academic discussion. The first was on 8 November 2023, when she shared her thoughts on one of her areas of academic expertise ‘Regional Development: Lessons from Germany’.

Dr Renu Singh, Director of SGIA’s MSc in Public Policy, introduced the event and the panel was made up of:

Professor Christopher Finlay, Head of School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA), who acted as a moderator for the event.

Dr Tessa Ditonto, Associate Professor in Gender and Politics in the School of Government and International Affairs.

Stephen Evans (former UK diplomat and senior official at NATO and Durham’s Director of Policy Engagement).

Panel in conversation

Dr Hill shared her thoughts on US President-elect, Donald Trump’s recent victory, and his style of administration. She noted that his victory could be seen more as a populist movement appealing to a coalition of voters born of a set of broader systemic issues, rather than a clear ideology.

Dr Tessa Ditonto examined ‘What does a President look like?’ noting that the approach of Democrat candidate Kamala Harris had focused on policy, rather than connecting with voters on a more personal level, which may have adversely influenced votes in the election.

Dr Hill then spoke of the rapidly changing world order and the challenges faced by the Trump administration, most notably the ongoing war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. She posed the question of how he will balance his relationships with world leaders with resolving the practical issues in these conflicts.

Stephen Evans reiterated that the US remains a significant world power and spoke of the infrastructure surrounding the President to support foreign policy. The panel discussed whether President-elect Trump would lean more to instinct or advice - and what effect that might have on world order.

Speaking about the event, Fiona said: "The event was a second welcome opportunity to meet with staff and students and to share my reflections on the recent US Presidential Election. I felt inspired hearing the views of staff and students, particularly from the School of Government and International Affairs. The University has a wealth of knowledge and talent in this area, with projects across the University adding real insight to global events.”

Professor Christopher Finlay, said: "This was a wonderful opportunity for us to hear Fiona's reflections on such a globally important event to consider the lessons we can learn and the impact that this election will have, both in the United States and throughout the International community.”

Dr Fiona Hill meets Revd Fiona Hill

The panel conversation concluded with a meeting of Fiona Hills. Coincidentally, the Chaplain of our Hill Colleges - Collingwood, Grey, Trevelyan and Van Mildert is also named Fiona Hill, so there was a unique opportunity for Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill to meet her namesake, Revd Fiona Hill.

This event was organised by Lucian Hudson, Director of Advancement, Marketing & Communications, and his Marketing & Communications Team, supported by Event Durham. It followed Fiona’s visit to North Durham Academy in Stanley, UK, where she shared her journey ‘from the coal house to the White House’ with Year 7 and Year 8 pupils.

About Dr Fiona Hill

Chancellor Fiona Hill was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, the daughter of a coal miner. She is an acclaimed foreign affairs specialist, author and former presidential advisor to George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. She served on the US National Intelligence Council from 2006 to 2009 and was a member of the US National Security Council from 2017 to 2019. She is a passionate advocate of the transformative power of education.