From coal miner's daughter to presidential adviser - Dr Fiona Hill has returned to the North East to receive her honorary doctorate with hopes of inspiring others.
Dr Hill visited the University of Sunderland’s city campus on October 5 where she spoke about her experiences serving as Russian advisor to three US presidents, before she was made a senior director for Europe and Russia on the country’s National Security Council by Donald Trump.
But despite working for top officials on the other side of the world, Dr Hill said it is her roots in the North East that kept her grounded, and gave her the steely grit and determination needed to succeed.
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“I cannot express what a huge honour this is for me. I just wish my and mam and dad were here to see this,” said Fiona.
“My dad left school at 14 and always wanted that education, and so always pushed me towards this, and I know he would be thrilled by this honorary degree from Sunderland. He always supported the football team, and my mum worked in Sunderland at the Royal Infirmary, it was her first nursing job.
“This city meant a lot to them and I’m delighted to be able to come back here today and share my own story. This really is a special place with very special people. This is a huge honour and I'm so grateful.”
She was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws “in recognition of her outstanding contribution to public service in the US at the highest level”, the university said.
Dr Hill later found herself at the centre of a global news story, as she was called upon to give evidence at Mr Trump’s first impeachment hearing in 2019.
And it was once again her strong upbringing that helped her to remain calm under such extreme circumstances, taking a leaf from her father's book, who first went down the pit aged 14.
“We were delighted to award Fiona Hill an honorary doctorate of laws as it was our way of acknowledging the extraordinary global achievements of this remarkable woman from the north east of England,” said the university's vice chancellor and chief executive Sir David Bell.
“We look forward to developing a warm and productive relationship with Fiona in the months and years to come.”
Dr Hill, who grew up in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, recently released her book, 'There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the 21st Century', documenting her life from her upbringing to the peak of her success in America.
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