Mrs Hillary Clinton is to deliver an address on peace and reconciliation when she visits the University of Ulster next month.
The US senator, and former first lady, will speak at the Magee Campus, Derry, on August 26th.
University President Mr Gerry McKenna said Mrs Clinton and husband Mr Bill Clinton, who were the first White House couple to visit Northern Ireland, were great friends of the university.
He said: "They dedicated themselves to this community when we needed them most and their international standing and support gave immense impetus and credibility to the efforts of our political leaders in Northern Ireland to bring about lasting peace and reconciliation."
Former SDLP leader and Nobel peace prize holder Mr John Hume, who holds the Tip O'Neill Chair in Peace studies at the university, said he was deeply honoured that Mrs Hillary Clinton was to give the annual lecture.
He said: "I have no doubt that her presence will be an outstanding international occasion, Senator Clinton last spoke at the university in 1997.
EC president Mr Romano Prodi and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, are among previous speakers who delivered the The Tip O'Neill lecture.
PA