Angelina Jolie Is Going to Be a Professor: 6 Life Lessons She Has Already Taught Us

Actress is set to be a guest lecturer at the London School of Economics and Political Science

By Francesca Bacardi May 23, 2016 8:40 PMTags
Angelina JolieXposure/AKM-GSI

You may call her Professor Angelina Jolie.

The Maleficent star has been named one of the London School of Economics and Political Science's new visiting professors who will be giving lectures as part of the school's new Master's program in Women, Peace and Security. Beginning in fall 2016, Jolie will participate in expert workshops and public events as well as beginning her own research.

"I am very encouraged by the creation of this 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 in a statement.

"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."

Now that Jolie is officially in a teaching position, let's think about the life lessons she has already bestowed upon us over the years.

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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Kids Through the Years
Steve Granitz/Wireimage

1. Stay on top of your health: Jolie surprised everyone after she announced in the New York Times that she had a double mastectomy to prevent a breast cancer diagnosis. She revealed that she had a gene that made her prone to getting the disease, so she took dramatic steps to ensure her health. Later, she underwent a total hysterectomy to prevent ovarian cancer, which was the reason for her mother's early death.

Throughout her journey Jolie became a fiercely vocal advocate for screenings, testing and more, empowering women to take charge of their health and bodies along the way.

2. Exes can be friends! Jolie is the queen of friendships with her exes. OK, so maybe they're not BFFs but she, Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller have nothing but kind things to say about each other. Jolie told Buzzfeed in 2014 that ex-husband Miller is "still a great friend," which means she's the queen of amicability.

Thornton said of his ex-wife, "We had a great time together. We had a great marriage and I chickened out because I didn't feel good enough. That's all that happened. It was no big deal, we never hated each other."

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3. Giving up the party but not the fun: It's safe to say Jolie led a wild life before settling down with her children and now-husband Brad Pitt. But now the mom-of-six is the epitome of balance—she knows how to take care of business, whether she's helping out in underprivileged countries or taking meetings with the United Nations, and be a doting mom at the same time.

4. Leave a bold impression on the red carpet: Whether she's wearing a vial of blood around her neck or flaunting her leg in a thigh-high slit, Jolie always makes a statement. Even when she and Pitt decide to wear matching tuxedos at the 2014 BAFTAs, she still looked gorgeous—perhaps even better than her other half.

5. It's never too late to follow your dreams: Famous for her acting, Jolie always wanted to be a director. Instead of resigning herself to her one (very successful) career, Jolie took control of her work and decided to move behind the camera. She has now directed a few films, including Unbroken and By the Sea.

6. March to the beat of your own drum: When Jolie's daughter, Shiloh, continuously wore masculine clothing out in public, Jolie didn't scold her or become embarrassed no matter how many questions came her way. In fact, she embraced her daughter's style choices! "Shiloh, we feel has Montenegro style. It's how people dress there. She likes tracksuits, she likes [regular] suits. So it's a suit with a tie and a jacket and slacks, or a tracksuit," she once told Vanity Fair.

"She likes to dress like a boy. She wants to be a boy. So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys' everything. She thinks she's one of the brothers."

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