Heather Munroe-Blum
Encyclopedia
Heather Anne Elyse Lilian Munroe-Blum, (born August 25, 1950) is the principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University
in Montreal, Quebec. She is also a member of the Board of
Directors of The Royal Bank of Canada
.
Munroe-Blum was born in Montreal and raised in Ontario
. She received her B.A.
and B.S.W. from McMaster University
, M.S.W.
from Wilfrid Laurier University
, and Ph.D
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. Prior to her appointment as principal of McGill, she was a professor
at York University
, McMaster University, and the University of Toronto
, where she later served as the vice-president of research and international relations) between 1994 and 2002. In January 2003, Munroe-Blum replaced outgoing principal Bernard Shapiro
as McGill's principal, becoming the first woman to occupy the position.
Trained as an epidemiologist
, Munroe-Blum has led large-scale epidemiological investigations related to psychiatric disorders
. She is the author or co-author of over 60 scholarly publications, including four books. She has served on the board of directors of the Medical Research Council of Canada (now the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
) as well as on international reviews of the German Academic Exchange Service
(DAAD), the Swiss National Science Foundation
, and the National Institute of Mental Health
(USA).
to make large donations to the university, resulting in the renaming of the faculties of management and music respectively. She has campaigned publicly for significant increases in the tuition fees paid by McGill students, arguing that the current, heavily subsidized, fees amounted to a "dollar store" policy on tuition. She does not hesitate to bypass Quebec government rules and to increase the MBA tuition fees without government approval (Le Devoir, January 21, 2010). Since beginning her role as principal at McGill, Munroe-Blum has introduced semi-annual town hall meetings in which students and faculty can openly ask questions of concern and raise issues of interest.
Since September 2011, Munroe-Blum has received criticism for responses to members of the University who took action to support McGill's Non-Academic Worker's union (MUNACA) in their labour dispute with the university, requiring faculty to take unpaid leave if they were unwilling to cross picket lines, instead of allowing them to teach off-campus in coffee shops or their homes. In an editorial for the Montreal Gazette, Dr. Anthony Paré, a professor in the Education department at McGill University, denounced the various tactics used by the McGill administration as unethical.
Munroe-Blum was principal during the November 10th, 2011 student protests, first instance of riot police entering McGill University's campus since March of 1969, after a city-wide student protest against increases in tuition fees ended in a student occupation of the McGill Principal's office. Five days later, there was an open rally at McGill regarding the events of November 10th. The event was attended by nearly 1,000 students and staff that were virtually unanimous in their denunciation of the McGill administration, headed by Munroe-Blum, and their handling of the November 10th protest and occupation.
, University of Edinburgh
, the University of Toronto
, Wilfrid Laurier University
, and École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
. She is also an officer of the Order of Canada
and fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
. In 2009, she was made an officer of the National Order of Quebec
.
She is married to screenwriter Len Blum
. They have one daughter.
In 2005, she attended the elite international Bilderberg conference. See List of Bilderberg attendees.
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal, Quebec. She is also a member of the Board of
Directors of The Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
.
Academic life and early career
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. She received her B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and B.S.W. from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, M.S.W.
Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work is a master's degree in social workand especiality of sociology.- United States :In the United States, MSW degrees must be received from a graduate school that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education...
from Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
, and Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. Prior to her appointment as principal of McGill, she was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, McMaster University, and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, where she later served as the vice-president of research and international relations) between 1994 and 2002. In January 2003, Munroe-Blum replaced outgoing principal Bernard Shapiro
Bernard Shapiro
Bernard Jack Shapiro, is a Canadian academic, civil servant, former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University from 1994 to 2004, and the first Ethics Commissioner of Canada between May 17, 2004 and March 29, 2007.-Biography:...
as McGill's principal, becoming the first woman to occupy the position.
Trained as an epidemiologist
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
, Munroe-Blum has led large-scale epidemiological investigations related to psychiatric disorders
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
. She is the author or co-author of over 60 scholarly publications, including four books. She has served on the board of directors of the Medical Research Council of Canada (now the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Canadian Institutes of Health Research is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. It is the successor to the Medical Research Council of Canada. It aims to create new health knowledge, and to translate that knowledge from the research setting into real world...
) as well as on international reviews of the German Academic Exchange Service
German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD is the largest German support organisation in the field of international academic co-operation....
(DAAD), the Swiss National Science Foundation
Swiss National Science Foundation
The Swiss National Science Foundation is a science research support organization mandated by the Swiss Federal Government. The SNSF was established in 1952 as a foundation under private law. Its secretariat is based in Bern....
, and the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
(USA).
Principal of McGill
As principal, Munroe-Blum has sought to rectify what she often cites as systemic underfunding of McGill, which is currently running a minor budget deficit, expected to be eliminated by 2011. Examples of this can be seen in her attracting of Canadian philanthropists such as Marcel Desautels and Seymour SchulichSeymour Schulich
Seymour Schulich, CM is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. -Biography:Schulich graduated from McGill University with a B.Sc. in 1961 and an MBA in 1965. He earned a Chartered Financial Analyst designation through the University of Virginia in 1969.He is married to Tanna and they live in...
to make large donations to the university, resulting in the renaming of the faculties of management and music respectively. She has campaigned publicly for significant increases in the tuition fees paid by McGill students, arguing that the current, heavily subsidized, fees amounted to a "dollar store" policy on tuition. She does not hesitate to bypass Quebec government rules and to increase the MBA tuition fees without government approval (Le Devoir, January 21, 2010). Since beginning her role as principal at McGill, Munroe-Blum has introduced semi-annual town hall meetings in which students and faculty can openly ask questions of concern and raise issues of interest.
Since September 2011, Munroe-Blum has received criticism for responses to members of the University who took action to support McGill's Non-Academic Worker's union (MUNACA) in their labour dispute with the university, requiring faculty to take unpaid leave if they were unwilling to cross picket lines, instead of allowing them to teach off-campus in coffee shops or their homes. In an editorial for the Montreal Gazette, Dr. Anthony Paré, a professor in the Education department at McGill University, denounced the various tactics used by the McGill administration as unethical.
Munroe-Blum was principal during the November 10th, 2011 student protests, first instance of riot police entering McGill University's campus since March of 1969, after a city-wide student protest against increases in tuition fees ended in a student occupation of the McGill Principal's office. Five days later, there was an open rally at McGill regarding the events of November 10th. The event was attended by nearly 1,000 students and staff that were virtually unanimous in their denunciation of the McGill administration, headed by Munroe-Blum, and their handling of the November 10th protest and occupation.
Awards and recognition
Munroe-Blum has received many accolades from the academic community including honorary degrees from the Université de MontréalUniversité de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
, and École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
The École Normale Supérieure de Lyon is a highly selective grande école located in Lyon, France. As one of France's three Écoles normales supérieures, ENS Lyon is associated with a strong French tradition of excellence and public service...
. She is also an officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
. In 2009, she was made an officer of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
.
She is married to screenwriter Len Blum
Len Blum
Leonard Solomon “Len” Blum, is an award winning Canadian screenwriter, film producer and film composer. He graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1975 and wrote many films including Meatballs, Stripes, Heavy Metal, Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, Meatballs...
. They have one daughter.
In 2005, she attended the elite international Bilderberg conference. See List of Bilderberg attendees.