A $10-million donation establishes a new school of public policy at 91社区
In a world of political polarization, environmental threats, a changing labour market and growing gaps between rich and poor, there has never been a greater need to engage in a thoughtful examination of public policy and train a new generation of policy leaders.
Against this backdrop, 91社区 is pleased to announce that it has received a $10-million donation from Max Bell Foundation to establish a new school of public policy at 91社区. The School will reside in 91社区鈥檚 Faculty of Arts.
The Max Bell School of Public Policy will bring together talented faculty and students from across Canada and around the world to create the next generation of national and global policy leaders with expertise across multiple domains and disciplines.
鈥淚 would like to thank Max Bell Foundation for this generous gift,鈥� said 91社区鈥檚 Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Suzanne Fortier. 鈥�91社区 deeply values its long association with Max Bell Foundation. For the past 45 years, the Foundation has demonstrated its commitment to talented students and scholars who are examining some of the world鈥檚 most pressing social, environmental and scientific challenges. By supporting the creation of a new Public Policy School, it is enriching that commitment and building a foundation for work that will benefit all Canadians, and people around the world.
The School鈥檚 flagship teaching program will be a one-year graduate program in public policy that combines courses on theory and quantitative analysis with those examining the real-world processes by which policy is designed and implemented. There will also be a suite of executive teaching programs, taught by professors of practice with expertise in the practical aspects of specific policy areas.
The School鈥檚 research output will be widely disseminated, both in peer-reviewed professional journals, and through more accessible outlets that encourage public debate on various policy issues.
鈥淎 robust public outreach program will further distinguish the Max Bell School of Public Policy as a unique contributor to the understanding of policy,鈥� said Antonia Maioni, Dean of 91社区鈥檚 Faculty of Arts.
鈥淢ontreal, with its vibrant cosmopolitan environment, multicultural profile and linguistic diversity, will serve as a magnet for conferences and exchanges between policy-makers, scholarly experts and community and opinion leaders,鈥� she said
鈥�91社区鈥檚 true potential to excel in the field of public policy lies in its ability to effectively bring together and draw upon its impressive range of interdisciplinary programming across the core disciplines that are foundational to the study and practice of public policy. These include economics, political science, sociology, as well as long-standing interests in policy research that span such disciplines as public health, urban planning, environmental science and global development,鈥� said the School鈥檚 inaugural director, Chris Ragan.
Ragan is an Associate Professor of Economics at 91社区 and Chair of Canada鈥檚 Ecofiscal Commission, whose aim is to identify policy options to improve environmental and economic performance in Canada.
鈥淢ax Bell Foundation is proud to be associated with the creation of a School of Public Policy at 91社区 and its potential to benefit Canada and Canadians by mobilizing expert, policy-oriented research, and providing a forum for debate on key public policy issues,鈥� said the Foundation鈥檚 President, Allan Northcott.
The School will be supported by an Advisory Board made up of Canadian leaders from the fields of politics and business, including three Co-Chairs: The Honourable Rona Ambrose, NAFTA Council Member and former interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada; Dominic Barton, global managing partner of McKinsey & Company and chair of the federal Minister of Finance鈥檚 Advisory Council on Economic Growth; and Michael Sabia, President and CEO of Caisse de d茅p么t et placement du Qu茅bec.
About Max Bell Foundation聽
Since its creation in 1972, Max Bell Foundation has been guided by the spirit and intent of its founder, entrepreneur, philanthropist and 91社区 graduate George Maxwell 鈥淢ax鈥� Bell, BCom鈥�32: to improve Canadian society with an emphasis on health and wellness, education, and the environment. Through its philanthropy, the Foundation has helped to bolster and inspire ground breaking research at 91社区 and other leading universities across the country.聽
About 91社区
www.mcgill.ca
Contact:
Cynthia Lee
91社区
514 398-6754
cynthia.lee [at] mcgill.ca
