Thomas L. Friedman '75, the three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist, will teach a course here for one semester next academic year, University President Jehuda Reinharz announced at a reception in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall Friday.Although the specifics of the class have yet to be determined, Reinharz said it will likely be an economics course about globalization. The class will be taught in conjunction with another Brandeis professor, according to Reinharz.

"We're very lucky to have [Friedman] as part of our Brandeis orbit," Reinharz said. "He's added an enormous amount to the intellectual life of the University and to its prestige."

Friedman confirmed by e-mail that he had agreed to teach next year, but declined to comment further.

Now a Times foreign affairs columnist, Friedman has won three Pulitzer Prizes, one for commentary and two for reporting. His most recent prize was awarded in 2002 for his commentary on how the world changed after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Before moving to The Times' op-ed page, he won Pulitzers for reporting in Lebanon in 1983 and for reporting in Israel in 1989. This April, he released The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century, a bestselling book exploring the issue of globalization.

"Friedman is clearly one of the most creative thinkers in today's world of journalism and will undoubtedly bring thoughtful and provocative perspectives into the classroom," Economics chair Gary Jefferson wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

Friedman's popularity among Brandeisians is hard to debate. Spingold Theater was filled to capacity in October 2004 when Friedman came to campus in support of the new Investigative Journalism Program.

Students were excited when told of Friedman's pending arrival, and many pointed to his prestige as a columnist.

"I think it's a wonderful thing," Mike Seir '07 said. "He's one of the foremost thinkers ... on the Middle East.

Reinharz said Friedman immediately accepted his offer to teach when he asked him "in the last few months."

"[Friedman] is a very loyal Brandeis alumnus," Reinharz said. "Whenever he's asked to do something, if he can possibly fit it into his schedule, he tries to accommodate us."

Reinharz declined to specify whether or not Friedman would be paid for his services, but did say that Friedman "never asked, never requested a penny from Brandeis."

Reinharz said he looks forward to the contribution Friedman will bring to students' lives.

"I think he's got something to say that is important to everyone in the Brandeis community," Reinharz said. "He's one of the most far-thinking, imaginative and interesting public intellectuals.