Former Sen. George J. Mitchell presented “America’s Role in the World” as part of UC Irvine’s Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellows Series, and the Global Peace and Conflict Studies’ 13th Annual Julius Margolis Lecture.

Mitchell represented Maine in the U.S. Senate for 15 years, serving as majority leader in his final six years. He has since played an active and distinguished role in international affairs, including chairing peace negotiations in Northern Ireland. Those talks led to the historic “Good Friday” accord in 1998 that ended decades of conflict. For that role, Mitchell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor the U.S. government can bestow. At the request of President Clinton and Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Mitchell also served as chairman of an international fact-finding committee on violence in the Middle East in 2001. The Bush Administration and the European Union later endorsed the committee’s recommendation, widely known as The Mitchell Report. Mitchell is the author of four books, including “Making Peace,” an account of his experiences in Northern Ireland. He is currently partner in the Washington law firm Piper Rudnick and chairman of the Walt Disney Company.

The Chancellor's Distinguished Fellows Series brings scholars and non-academics to campus to share their expertise and skills with the UCI community.

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