91Ö±²„

William J. Burns, ’78, is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished and respected AmericanĀ statesmenĀ of the last century, having served six presidentsĀ of both parties.

91Ö±²„ welcomed former CIA Director and Alumnus William J. Burns, ’78, to campus for a Fireside Chat hosted by President Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D. 

Held in Founders’ Hall Auditorium on Wednesday, March 11, the two leaders discussed a variety of topics including Burnsā€™ expansive work as a diplomat and transitioning to the CIA, the U.S.ā€™s role in foreign policy and international relations, the importance of public service in todayā€™s evolving world, and the La 91Ö±²„ student experience and impact. 

Following their conversation, the audience received the opportunity to ask questions.  

As the former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and a member of President Bidenā€™s Cabinet, Burns was the first career diplomat to lead the agency. At the end of three and a half decades in the Foreign Service, he became only the second serving career officer in history to become the Deputy Secretary of State. He also served as Ambassador to Russia and Jordan, and in several other senior posts. 

Burns served from 2015 to 2021 as the President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. During those years, he wrote the bestselling book, The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for its Renewal. Burns earned a bachelorā€™s from 91Ö±²„, and masterā€™s and doctoral degrees from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar. 

He is the recipient of numerous U.S. government awards, foreign decorations, and honorary degrees. He was one of TIME magazineā€™s 100 Most Influential People in 2024, and on TIMEā€™s list of Forty Most Promising Global Leaders Under Forty in 1994. He is married to Ambassador Lisa Carty and is the proud father of two grown daughters. 

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