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MPWMost Powerful Women

You’re Not Alone, Tyra—These Famous Women Have All Taught College Courses

By
Valentina Zarya
Valentina Zarya
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By
Valentina Zarya
Valentina Zarya
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August 24, 2016, 11:13 AM ET
2016 ESSENCE Festival Presented By Coca-Cola Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - Day 3
Photograph by Paras Griffin—Getty Images for 2016 Essence Festival

Earlier this week, the news broke that supermodel and America’s Next Top Model producer Tyra Banks is slated to teach a course at Stanford Business School.

While the course—which will focus on creating and maintaining a personal brand—is highly anticipated, it’s certainly not the first time that a famous name from outside the world of academia has tried her hand at teaching. Here are five other examples of celebrities-turned-professors:

1. Angelina Jolie
John Kerry and Angelina Jolie attend iftar receptionActress Angelina JoliePhotograph via Anadolu Agency—Getty Images

Starting next year, the actress will serve as a visiting professor at the London School of Economics for a new master’s class on women, peace, and security.

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2. Oprah Winfrey

US-AWARDS-MEDAL OF FREEDOMOprah Winfrey attends the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House in 2013.Photograph by Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images

The media mogul taught a course on leadership at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1999.

3. Jill Abramson

Former New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson Gives Commencement Address At Wake Forest UniversityJill Abramson at Wake Forest University in 2014.Photograph by Chris Keane—Getty Images

The former executive editor of The New York Times currently teaches a number of classes at her alma mater, Harvard University, where she graduated from in 1976.

4. Amal Clooney
"Money Monster" - Red Carpet Arrivals - The 69th Annual Cannes Film FestivalAmal Clooney at the screening of “Money Monster” in Cannes, France.Photograph by Oleg Nikishin—Getty Images

Famed barrister Amal Clooney—who is married to actor George Clooney—served a visiting faculty member and senior fellow with Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute in 2015 and 2016. She lectured in professor Sarah H. Cleveland’s Human Rights course and addressed human rights litigation with students in the school’s Human Rights Clinic.

About the Author
By Valentina Zarya
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