Carla A. Hills, J.D., former U.S. Trade Representative, will deliver the School of Law’s Tyrrell Williams Lecture on “Trade and the 2008 Elections” at 4 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom at Anheuser-Busch Hall.
Hills also will serve as the law school’s inaugural “Ambassador-in-Residence,” meeting with students, faculty and other community members interested in international law, international trade and international relations.
The Ambassador-in-Residence program brings foreign service professionals to the law school for periods ranging from a week to a semester to share their experiences and knowledge with the law school and University community. During her visit, Hills will discuss her experiences in, among other things, the negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with law students working in this area.
Hills currently is chair and chief executive officer of Hills & Co., International Consultants, which advises companies on global trade and investment issues. She served as U.S. Trade Representative during the administration of George H.W. Bush and, as a member of Bush’s cabinet, Hills was the president’s principal adviser on international trade policy.
As the nation’s chief trade negotiator, Hills represented American interests in multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations throughout the world. During her tenure, she led the U.S. negotiations in the Uruguay round of multilateral trade talks, concluded NAFTA and entered into a large number of trade and investment agreements with countries around the world.
Previously, she served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and assistant attorney general, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice.
Hills currently serves as chair of the National Committee on United States-China Relations and of the Inter-American Dialogue; co-chair of the Council on Foreign Relations; vice-chair of the U.S.-China Business Council; member of the Executive Committee of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and of the Trilateral Commission; co-chair of the International Advisory Board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and member of the international boards for several major companies.
Hills earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Yale University. She is the recipient of a number of honorary degrees. In 2000, Hills was awarded the Aztec Eagle, the highest honor given by the Mexican government to a non-citizen.