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Visiting Professors and Scholars

McConnell Visiting Professors of Practice and Scholars

Supported by funding from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, these positions are for practitioners with a history of accomplishment and the capacity to engage in the activities of the School, particularly the School’s MPP program.

James Van Loon

McConnell Visiting Scholar (2026-2027)

Director of Operations/Director General for the Artificial Intelligence Secretariat in the Privy Council Office and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Matthew Chiasson

McConnell Visiting Scholar (2026-2027)

Senior Policy Advisor, Competition Bureau

Past McConnell Professors of Practice and Visiting Scholars

	Kyle Matthews McConnell Professor of Practice (2025-2026) Co-founder and Executive Director of the Montreal Institute for Global Security
	Gisèle Yasmeen McConnell Professor of Practice (2025-2026) Former Global Fellow of the Wilson Center; previously Associate Vice-President, International at the University of Ottawa and Senior Fellow at the University of British Columbia’s Institute of Asian Research
	Mary Bartram, Ph.D. McConnell Visiting Scholar (2026) Mental health and substance use health policy, former CEO of Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, former Director at the Mental Health Commission of Canada
	Timothy Lane McConnell Professor of Practice (2024-2025) Former Deputy Governor of Bank of Canada
	Jennifer Robson McConnell Visiting Scholar (2024-2025) Expert in family policy, tax policy, wealth inequality, gender inequality and the design and delivery of social programs.
	Emily Paddon Rhoads Visiting Professor & McConnell Visiting Scholar (2024-2025) Focuses on civilian protection and civilian agency in armed conflict, humanitarianism, peacekeeping, and the role of international institutions
	Ian Scott McConnell Professor of Practice (2023-2024) Expert on policy and regulation in broadcasting and telecommunications
	Barbara Koremenos McConnell Visiting Scholar (2023-2024)
	Olivia Smith McConnell Visiting Scholar (2022-2024) Expert on human trafficking, labour migration and human rights; 2021 O’Brien Fellow in Residence
	Vincent Rigby McConnell Professor of Practice (2022-2023) Former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister
	Sue Gardner McConnell Professor of Practice (2021-2022) Executive Director of The Markup, former director of and now special advisor to the Wikimedia Foundation, expert on technology, media, gender, and digital freedoms.
	Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli McConnell Visiting Scholar (2021-2022) Expert on social innovation, African agriculture and nutrition, entrepreneurship, and youth development
	Ken Boessenkool McConnell Professor of Practice (2020-2021)
	David Shribman McConnell Professor of Practice (2019-2020) Journalist Awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1995 for his coverage of U.S. politics Ten years as the Washington Bureau Chief of The Boston Globe