Heather Munroe-Blum, O.C., O.Q., Ph.D., FRSC

Heather Munroe-Blum became 16th Principal (President) and Vice-Chancellor and senior officer of McGill University in 2003. An accomplished scholar in the fields of epidemiology and public policy and a distinguished administrator, Prof. Munroe-Blum is a member of McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health. She has dedicated her career to the advancement of higher education, science and innovation, in Canada and internationally, advising governments and other organizations on the role that universities, research and highly qualified talent play in advancing international competitiveness and enriching societies. She is the author of the groundbreaking report “Growing Ontario’s Innovation System: The Strategic Role of University Research” that led to the creation of a new framework of science policies and programs in Ontario.

Among her main objectives as Principal of McGill is a commitment to strengthen the university’s leadership at the world level with respect to research, graduate education, student experience and positive societal contribution. Hallmarks to date of her leadership at McGill have been advancement of governance, promotion of strategic areas of excellence and impact in research and scholarship, and enrichment of the student experience. Her Principal’s Task Force on Student Life and Learning has led to measures and improvements to enhance the university experience for McGill’s 37,500 students.

Prof. Munroe-Blum serves on numerous not-for-profit and private boards. She serves on the Board and the Internationalization Committee of the Association of American Universities, and chairs the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada’s Standing Advisory Committee on University Research (SACUR). She is a member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC) of Canada, U.S. National Research Council’s Committee on Research Universities, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Trilateral Commission, and is the co-chair of the Private Sector Advisory Committee of the Ontario-Quebec Trade and Co-operation Agreement. She serves on the boards of the Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Trudeau Foundation, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Conférence de Montréal, the Yellow Media Inc., and the Royal Bank of Canada. She is the past President of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ) and was a founding director of the Medical and Related Sciences Discovery District (MARS) and Genome Canada, where she also served as Vice-Chair of the Board. She has served on the boards of the Council of Canadian Academies, the former Medical Research Council of Canada, Neurosciences Canada, Conference Board of Canada, Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Alcan, Canada Forum of Rio Tinto Alcan, Four Seasons Hotel, and Hydro One, among others.

Prior to assuming the position of Principal at McGill, she served at the University of Toronto as a Professor, a Governor, Dean of Social Work, and as Vice-President, Research and International Relations (1994 to 2002). She has also been a professor at York University and McMaster University. Prior to her doctoral studies and academic career in psychiatric epidemiology and public policy, she worked as a psychiatric social worker in an academic health setting and contributed to clinical research and the development of mental health policy and programs.

Prof. Munroe-Blum has received numerous honours and awards. Named an Officer of the Order of Canada for her outstanding record of achievements in science, innovation and higher education policy, she also holds numerous honorary degrees from Canadian and international universities. Prof. Munroe-Blum is a Specially Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Senior Fellow of Massey College. She was named a Grande Montréalaise, Montréal’s highest honour, in 2008 and received the National Order of Quebec in June 2009. In 2010 she was named an Honorary Rotarian by the Rotary Club of Montreal.

Prof. Munroe-Blum holds a Ph.D. with distinction in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in addition to M.S.W. (Wilfrid Laurier University) and B.A. and B.S.W. degrees (McMaster University).

Born in Montreal, Prof. Munroe-Blum is married to screenwriter and teacher Len Blum, and they have one daughter.

August 2011