Paul O'Neill, who served as the 72nd secretary of the treasury, will discuss lessons learned from the financial crisis March 16 at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

O'Neill's lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Baker Hall's Kelly International Conference Facility on the Rice campus, 6100 Main St.

O'Neill was named treasury secretary in 2001, but his critical views on fiscal policy and the planned Iraq invasion led to a falling out with President George W. Bush. He was fired Dec. 31, 2002 and was replaced by John Snow. In 2004, O'Neill published an account of his time in Washington, The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House and the Education of Paul O'Neill, written with Ron Suskind.

Prior to serving as treasury secretary, O'Neill was chairman and CEO of Alcoa Inc. from 1987 to 1999. He was also president of International Paper Company from 1985 to 1987, where he served as vice president from 1977 to 1985.

O’Neill received a bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University, Fresno, and a master’s degree in public administration from Indiana University.

The event is sponsored by the Baker Institute Student Forum.