This autumn, incoming students at the London School of Economics (LSE) may be star-struck, as a member of Hollywood’s glitterati is set to join their ranks – as a professor.

The school, known as one of the world’s top universities, announced on Monday that Angelina Jolie will join the Centre for Women, Peace and Security as a visiting professor in its new Master’s program. 

Jolie will play a part in “developing strategies to promote gender equality and enhance women’s economic, social and political participation and security,” said a statement released by LSE.

In the statement, Jolie said she was very encouraged by the creation of the Master’s program.

“I hope other academic institutions will follow this example, as it is vital that we broaden the discussion on how to advance women’s rights and end impunity for crimes that disproportionately affect women, such as sexual violence in conflict,” she said.

“I am looking forward to teaching and to learning from the students as well as to sharing my own experiences of working alongside governments and the United Nations,” Jolie added.

As a visiting professor, she will deliver guest lectures to students, participate in expert workshops and public events, and pursue her own research.

The MSc in Women, Peace and Security will include courses on ‘Women, Peace and Security’, ‘Gender and Militarisation’ and ‘Gender and Human Rights’, and students will be able to conduct independent research in an unexplored area within topics related to issues such as preventing sexual violence during conflict.

However, there are those who doubt Jolie’s credentials. And some even reacted with humor:

But some have also come to Jolie’s defense: Hannah Fearn wrote a piece on the Independent criticizing those who belittled her achievements, calling it “academic snobbery at its worst.”

Jolie, who is a special envoy for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), will share her duties with other prominent figures in human rights, such as Amnesty International’s director of international advocacy, Jane Connors; former U.K. foreign secretary William Hague; and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom’s secretary-general, Madeleine Rees.

Hopefully LSE’s enrolment team can handle the deluge of applications that’s likely to come from Jolie’s appointment.

Image via AP Images.

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