Mike Pompeo’s career has taken on a remarkably new dimension, combining modern academic engagement with traditional statesmanship. He became a fellow at the Institute of Global Politics at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in March 2025. He currently teaches diplomacy, decision-making, and leadership strategy courses there; he has years of experience in some of the most demanding positions in Washington. Despite being surprising to some, the change feels especially novel in light of the growing demands for ideological diversity in prestigious universities.
His appointment has generated discussions outside of lecture halls. Pompeo’s entry into education appears to be both well-thought-out and remarkably successful for a person who frequently causes division in public life. Donors, alumni, and media critics have put pressure on Columbia in recent years to welcome more conservative viewpoints. Pompeo’s appointment is a calculated move to restore equilibrium to the intellectual environment, not just a token gesture. The choice to put him ahead of the next generation of policy leaders also reflects a significant trend: universities now understand that insulating students from ideological conflict leaves them unprepared for governance, even though controversy still surrounds some of his policy positions.
Mike Pompeo: Bio and Career Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Richard Pompeo |
| Date of Birth | December 30, 1963 |
| Age | 61 |
| Profession | Former Secretary of State, Educator, Consultant |
| Current Role | Fellow at SIPA’s Institute of Global Politics, Columbia University |
| Academic Focus | Diplomacy, decision-making, organizational leadership |
| Notable Past Roles | CIA Director (2017–2018), Secretary of State (2018–2021), U.S. Rep. (2011–2017) |
| Political Activity | Founder of Champion American Values PAC and Fund |
| Corporate Ties | Non-executive director, Cyabra (Cybersecurity); Advisor to Nippon Steel |
| Reference | Mike Pompeo – Wikipedia |
His current position as a faculty fellow is not merely a post-political afterthought; rather, it is a component of a significantly better plan to incorporate conservative ideas into academic settings that are typically thought of as progressive. Pompeo engages in direct conversation with aspiring diplomats, policy researchers, and students studying international affairs by going into the classroom. That setting, which is naturally shaped by discussion and learning, makes room for substantive ideological conflict that is far more fruitful than echo chambers could ever be.
Pompeo’s visit aligns with Columbia’s larger initiative to increase campus political representation. In 2023, former U.S. Ambassador Jacob Lew and Hillary Clinton, who was also Secretary of State, joined the Institute’s leadership. Students have a unique opportunity to participate in cross-partisan policy discussions based on actual decision-making experience when such individuals are present. Pompeo, who regularly highlights the importance of “fact-based discourse,” sees the platform as a direct avenue to influence via conviction and clarity rather than partisanship.
His position as a teacher coincides with political organizations reassessing the line separating academics from activism. Pompeo harshly criticized Columbia’s response in a statement he posted during the spring 2024 “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” protests, calling the protesters a “pro-Hamas mob.” Although his remarks sparked additional discussion, they also served to emphasize a more general reality: Pompeo has no interest in passive assimilation. He’s challenging a generation that grew up in highly filtered social media to think critically and directly by bringing the same combative clarity he once used in State Department press briefings into lecture halls.
Pompeo is not giving up on his larger political endeavors as a result of this. He still serves as the leader of Champion American Values PAC, a group dedicated to advancing what he refers to as “traditional American principles” and opposing progressive ideas in American education. Regarding X, he recently stated that DEI programs have “done enormous damage,” a statement that, despite being controversial, strikes a deep chord with his conservative base and demonstrates his continued desire to influence cultural discourse outside of the classroom.
He manages his finances as well. Pompeo continues to be involved in sectors that support both international trade and national security as a policy advisor to Nippon Steel and a non-executive director for Cyabra, an Israeli cybersecurity company. His influence is increased by these collaborations, which enable him to provide current case studies and policy examples that greatly enhance his instructional resources. His pupils are participating in history as it happens rather than merely studying it.
Pompeo’s current role is especially advantageous because it makes room for complex leadership training that is grounded in practice rather than theory. Pompeo has completely adapted to the SIPA environment, in contrast to many honorary professors or guest lecturers who only occasionally show up. He participates in faculty discussions, attends seminars, and gives student advice. His experience, with its successes and controversies, provides a highly adaptable model for students aspiring to work in high-stakes diplomacy.
Pompeo is devoting his time to education at a time when many former cabinet members turn to their private lives or cable commentary. This decision reflects a hopeful view that education is the first step toward change. “The greatest risk to America is that we stop teaching what makes it great,” he has emphasized time and time again. His instruction in this setting is civic in nature rather than just academic.
This move could have far-reaching effects outside of Columbia’s ivy-clad walls. More politically diverse faculty appointments at peer institutions may result from the success of his fellowship. The approach is straightforward: enlist professionals from all backgrounds, incorporate them into polite, structured discussions, and equip students to take the lead in a politically divided but dynamic environment. In light of growing scrutiny, academic institutions may find this significantly improved framework especially appealing.
Although Pompeo’s tenure at Columbia is still in its early phases, his goals are clearly clear. He is not there for prestige or show. He is there to mold minds—straightforwardly, sternly, and without remorse. He is creating a second act that is far more instructive than rhetorical by making use of his connections, legacy, and platform.
