Past Presidents

Suzanne Fortier, 2013-2022

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:50:48 +0000

Suzanne Fortier, 2013-2022 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:50

Suzanne Fortier served as the 17th Principal and Vice-Chancellor of ��Ƭ��֦��Ƶ from 2013 to 2022. Prior to her appointment as Principal, Professor Fortier was President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) from 2006 to 2013, and held the position of Vice-Principal (Academic) from 2000 to 2005 and Vice-Principal (Research) from 1995 to 2000 at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where she was a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and in the School of Computing (1982-2006).

A native of St-Timothée, Québec, Professor Fortier graduated from McGill with a BSc (1972) and a PhD in Crystallography (1976). Her research work has focused in the development of mathematical and artificial intelligence methodologies for protein structure determination. She has also made contributions to the development of novel techniques in crystallographic data mining to gain new insights from the large structural databases.

Professor Fortier was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2018. She is also an officer of France’s National Order of Merit, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was named a Specially Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2015). She holds honorary doctorates from Thompson Rivers University, Carleton University, and the University of Glasgow.

Professor Fortier currently serves as Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global University Leaders Forum (GULF), as a member of the HEC Paris International Advisory Board, on the Boards of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill and the ��Ƭ��֦��Ƶ Health Centre (MUHC), and is an Academic Member of the Board of Governors of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. She also serves on the Canadian Business-Higher Education Roundtable, the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board, as well as the Boards of Directors of Montreal International, and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

She has previously served as a member of several boards and councils, including the federal government's Council of Science and Technology Advisors (CSTA), the Board of Directors of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Steering Committee of the Networks of Centres of Excellence, the Ontario Task Force on Competitiveness, Productivity and Economic Progress, Universities Canada, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, the Canadian Federal Minister of Finance’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth, the Conference Board of Canada, and served as a member and Vice-Chair of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC).

Heather Munroe-Blum, 2003-2013

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:47:14 +0000

Heather Munroe-Blum, 2003-2013 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:47

Heather Munroe-Blum became 16^th Principal and Vice-Chancellor (President) and Senior Officer of ��Ƭ��֦��Ƶ in 2003. An accomplished scholar in the fields of psychiatric epidemiology and public policy, and a distinguished administrator, Prof. Munroe-Blum is a member of McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Professor in its 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. She advises governments on the role that progressive, evidence-based public policy, and especially, policies concerning universities, health, research and highly qualified talent play in enriching society and enhancing international competitiveness. 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, and is founding Co-Chair of the biannual State of the Nation Report of the Canadian Science, Technology and Innovation Council, which advises the Government of Canada.

Among achievements during her time as Principal of McGill, has been strengthening of McGill’s leadership contributions at the world level with respect to research, graduate education, and positive societal contribution. Hallmarks to date have been the dramatic renewal of the professoriate, advancement of governance, major infrastructure renewal and promotion of distinctive areas of excellence and impact in research and scholarship. Her Principal’s Task Forces on Student Life and Learning, and, on Excellence, Diversity and Community Engagement are leading to measures and improvements to enhance the university experience for McGill’s 35,000 students, and, extending McGill’s contributions to healthy civil society, at home and abroad.

Prof. Munroe-Blum serves on the Internationalization and Membership Committees of the Association of American Universities (AAU). She is Chair of 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, the President’s Council of the ��Ƭ��֦��Ƶ York Academy of Sciences, and, in the past two years served as a member of the U.S. National Research Council’s Committee on Research Universities which reported to the U.S. Congress in June 2012. She serves on the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the 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 Trudeau Foundation, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), the Conférence de Montréal, and the Royal Bank of Canada.

Professor Munroe-Blum is the past President of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ), was a founding director of the Toronto-based Medical and Related Sciences Discovery District (MARS), and, of Genome Canada, where she also served as founding Vice-Chair of the Board. She was Co-Chair of the 2011 Centraide (United Way) Campaign of Greater Montreal. She has served on the boards of numerous Canadian teaching hospitals, the Council of Canadian Academies, the former Medical Research Council of Canada, Neurosciences Canada, the Conference Board of Canada, the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Alcan, Canada Forum of Rio Tinto Alcan, Yellow Media Inc., Hydro One (Ontario), and Four Seasons Hotels, among others.

Prior to assuming the position of Principal and Vice-Chancellor at McGill, she served at the University of Toronto as Professor, as Vice-President (Research and International Relations) from 1994 to 2002 and as Dean of the Faculty of Social Work from 1989 to 1994. Earlier, she was a professor at York University and McMaster University, respectively. Prior to her doctoral studies and academic career, she worked as a psychiatric social worker in an academic health setting. She has lead a number of major clinical and population-based research studies, and contributed to the development of mental health policy and programs.

Prof. Munroe-Blum has received numerous honors and awards. Named an Officer of the Order of Canada for an outstanding record of achievement in science, innovation, health and higher education policy, she holds numerous honorary degrees from Canadian and international universities, is a Specially Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Senior Fellow of Massey College, and, an Officer of the Order of Quebec.

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. They have one child.

Bernard J. Shapiro, 1994-2002

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:41:28 +0000

Bernard J. Shapiro, 1994-2002 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:41

Born and raised in Montreal, Shapiro earned his undergraduate degree at ��Ƭ��֦��Ƶ, where he was awarded the Alan Oliver Gold Medal. He is past president of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education and of the Social Science Federation of Canada. He has also served on the executive committee of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and as Chair of the governing board of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation in Paris. He is the author of numerous articles on curriculum, public policy in education, the development of logical thinking in young people, and educational research and methodology. He has addressed provincial, national and international educational organizations in Canada and abroad, and has received honorary degrees from ��Ƭ��֦��Ƶ, University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, Yeshiva University, McMaster University, Université de Montréal and the University of Edinburgh.

David Lloyd Johnston, 1979-1994

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:36:11 +0000

David Lloyd Johnston, 1979-1994 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:36

Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Johnston received his BA from Harvard in 1963. He holds law degrees from Cambridge and from Queen's and served on the Law faculties of Queen's and Toronto before being appointed Dean of Law at the University of Western Ontario in 1974. The author of numerous publications, he has specialized in securities regulation and in corporation and labour law. He took up his duties as Principal in September 1979.

Robert Edward Bell, 1970-1979

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:35:40 +0000

Robert Edward Bell, 1970-1979 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:35

After research and teaching in nuclear physics, including terms as Rutherford Professor of Physics and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Robert E. Bell was appointed Principal in 1970. Under his administration, the Rutherford Physics Building and the Bronfman Building were constructed and the University switched from a four-year to a three-year undergraduate program as the new system of CEGEPs was instituted throughout Quebec.

Harold Rocke Robertson, 1962-1970

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:35:03 +0000

Harold Rocke Robertson, 1962-1970 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:35

Born in Victoria, B.C., in 1912, Robertson received his BSc (1932) and MD,CM (1936) from McGill. He was Professor of Surgery at the University of British Columbia and afterwards Surgeon-in-chief at the Montreal General Hospital and chairman of the Department of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine.

In December l962 he became the first McGill graduate to be appointed Principal. Under his administration, several buildings were planned or constructed, including a new upper campus formed by the McIntyre Medical Building, the Faculty of Law Building and the Stewart Biology Building. The number of students and staff doubled. Robertson implemented administrative decentralization with the creation of additional Vice-Principals and other administrative officers.

Frank Cyril James, 1939-1962

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:34:38 +0000

Frank Cyril James, 1939-1962 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:34

Born in 1903 in London, England, Frank Cyril James attended the London School of Economics and the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained his PhD in 1926 and pursued a career as an economist, professor of finance and author.

Invited to McGill in 1939 to reorganize the School of Commerce, he was appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor when L. Douglas returned to the U.S. shortly after war was declared. While Principal of McGill, he also kept active in his field and participated in the work of many organizations in both Canada and the United States. Chairman of the Canadian Advisory Committee on Reconstruction from 1941 to 1943, he was also a member of the American Committee on Financial Research of the National Bureau of Economic Research from 1935 to 1945. Member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of Canadian Universities from 1940 to 1952, he was its vice-president, 1946-1948, and president, 1948-1950. His involvement in wider university affairs was constant; he was member of the executive of the Association of Universities of the British Commonwealth, 1948-51, 1960-62; Chairman, 1949, of the Canadian Universities Foundation, Vice-Chairman, 1959-62, and President of the International Association of Universities, 1960-65. Recipient of many awards, he also lent his support to various social and charitable organizations. He resigned as Principal in 1962. He died in England in 1973.

F. Cyril James' term as Principal of McGill coincided with the retirement of Sir Edward Beatty as Chancellor and opened an era of greater control by his office over all aspects of the administration of the University. His principalship was marked by the expansion of the University's commitment in a number of traditional fields as well as its involvement in new ones: the Faculty of Divinity was created in 1948; the departments of Geography and Chemical Engineering, the Foster Radiation Laboratory, the Institute of Islamic Studies and the Bellairs Research Institute were all established during this period. The Principal's records reflect the involvement of James in all aspects of the life of the University. Records documenting James' work for various external organizations, such as the International Association of Universities, will be found in his private papers, M.G. 1017.

Lewis Williams Douglas, 1938-1939

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:34:10 +0000

Lewis Williams Douglas, 1938-1939 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:34

Lewis Williams Douglas, an American, but the grandson of James Douglas, who had served as a governor of McGill, 1911-1919, and who had been a major benefactor of the University, was Principal from 1938 to 1939.

Born on 2 July 1894, Douglas was a graduate of Amherst College, with a postgraduate year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to being appointed Principal he was a Vice-President of the American Cyanamid Co. from 1934 to 1937. Under his administration the budget was balanced, to the astonishment of the Governors, the Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Gymnasium project was approved, and the plans for a building to house a radiation laboratory equipped with a cyclotron were authorized by the end of Douglas's first year. He returned to the United States at the outbreak of World War II, where he served in the War Shipping Administration. He was ambassador to the Court of St. James, 1947 to 1950. He died 7 March 1974.

Arthur Eustace Morgan, 1935-1937

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:33:34 +0000

Arthur Eustace Morgan, 1935-1937 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:33

Born in Bristol, England, on 26 July 1886, Morgan was the first Principal of University College, Hull, from 1926 to 1935 before being appointed as McGill's Principal.

During his administration there was controversy over the attitude the University authorities should adopt towards the small but vocal group of socialist professors and students. He retired from the office in May 1937. He died 3 February 1972. Between the departure of Morgan and the arrival of L.W. Douglas, W.H. Britain, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, served as Acting Principal.

Sir Arthur Currie, 1920-1933

daniel.zhang@mail.mcgill.ca — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:33:02 +0000

Sir Arthur Currie, 1920-1933 daniel.zhang@m… Tue, 03/14/2023 - 07:33

Born in Adelaide, Ontario in 1875, Arthur Currie was educated locally as a school teacher and left at the age of nineteen to seek his fortunes in Victoria, British Columbia.

After a short career as a teacher, he became an insurance agent, then a manager and real estate developer. Concurrently, he also pursued a career in the militia rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel by 1912. After the outbreak of war in 1914 he rose quickly through the ranks, orchestrating the famous Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge, and by 1917 he was the commander of the Canadian Corps in France. Currie's leadership skills, mastery of complex situations and attention to detail on the battlefield were transferable, due to his hard work, to McGill's academic milieu. A fine public speaker, Currie greatly aided McGill's capital campaign of 1920. Currie's reputation as a general was attacked in 1927 by an Ontario newspaper which charged him with the needless sacrifice of Canadian troops during the war. Currie sued the newspaper and won. However, the trial had taken an emotional toll on Currie and he was given a leave of absence. He died in office in 1933.