Boston College Front Row

Nicholas Burns '78, professor in the practice of diplomacy and international politics at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, briefly reflects on his time as a student at Boston College before delivering a lecture on genocide, its causes, results, and the world's obligation to prevent it in the future. Burns served in the U.S. Foreign Service for 27 years until his retirement in April 2008. He was under secretary of state for political affairs from 2005 to 2008, the nation's highest-ranking career diplomat. In this position, he oversaw U.S. diplomatic efforts around the world, including in Iran, India, and Kosovo.