“It’s a great honour and privilege to lead the institution that has been my home for 20 years,” says Professor Sylvestre. “Walking on our main campus every day, I’m struck by how far we’ve come as a community. Together, we have transformed this university into one of the top five research-intensive universities in Canada, one that attracts students and researchers from 150 countries to the very heart of our nation’s capital. We will continue to build on the momentum created by our current president and vice-chancellor, Jacques Frémont.”
A distinguished interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Sylvestre joined the University of Ottawa as a professor in 2005 after earning a bachelor’s in law from the Université de Montréal and a master’s and SJD from Harvard University, where she was a Frank Knox Memorial Foundation Fellow. She has been the dean of the Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section, since 2019. Her research focuses on criminal law and practices that have a discriminatory impact on marginalized populations. Her book Red Zones: Criminal Law and the Territorial Governance of Marginalized People (Cambridge University Press, 2020), co-authored with Nicholas Blomley and Céline Bellot, won the W. Wesley Pue Award (2021) from the Canadian Law and Society Association. She has also served as co-chair of the uOttawa Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and is a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada, a member of the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute and a board member of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. In 2022, she was awarded the distinction Advocatus Emeritus by the Quebec Bar.
A respected scholar and leader
Over the past six months, the Presidential Selection Committee—comprising 14 members nominated by the Board of Governors and the Senate —undertook a thorough and inclusive selection process assisted by an external firm and consulting with both internal and external members of the broader University community.
“Professor Sylvestre began her career at the University of Ottawa in 2005 and brings a deep commitment to the institution, a distinguished record as a researcher in law, and valuable experience on international committees. Her dedication to forging new partnerships, developing innovative programs for students, and, above all, her collaborative and relationship-driven leadership style will serve the University well as we continue to grow as a hub of innovation, research, and lifelong learning,” said Jennifer Adams, Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Ottawa. “I want to thank Jacques Frémont for his nine years of exemplary leadership. His tenure has been one of remarkable growth for the University, in terms of the size of its student body, faculty, infrastructure and research intensity, as well as our commitment to the Francophonie and Indigenization. We are much stronger today thanks to his vision and leadership.”
“It has been the honour of my professional life to lead this great institution to new heights over the last nine years,” said Jacques Frémont, the current University of Ottawa president and vice-chancellor. “I have been inspired every day by the talent and dedication of our students, faculty and staff. At the end of June, I will pass the baton to Marie-Eve, knowing that our community will have in her a visionary leader and bridge-builder able to tap into the creative energy of this unique place and continue the forward momentum in which we are all invested. I congratulate her on her appointment and wish her and our community much success in the years to come.”
A university with a unique identity in the heart of Canada's capital
As the largest bilingual French-English university in the world with an increasing commitment to Indigenous languages and cultures, uOttawa is a gateway to the rest of the world. The President Designate intends to leverage the University’s unique identity and unparalleled strategic geographical position to build a stronger community. The University is located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe, in the national capital of a G7 country, steps away from Parliament, the Supreme Court, major cultural institutions and a vast network of embassies, and close to Canada’s largest tech park in Kanata North and world-renowned research hospitals.
“I believe in a university rooted in its community, contributing to and benefitting from it,” says President Designate Sylvestre. “A university that builds on the outstanding talent of its students, the extraordinary expertise and creativity of its faculty and staff, and the commitment of its influential network of alumni and partners to offer a world-class education, maintain our research intensity and international positioning, ensure our fiscal viability and contribute to society. We are eager to partner with governments, community groups, international organizations and the private sector to meet the greatest societal challenges of our time — climate change and the Arctic, international trade, housing, food insecurity, democracy and governance — as well as advancing technology, including quantum and AI, and shaping the future of health care. I invite our community to join us. Together, we will transform our university, our city, our country, and our world.”
Marie-Eve Sylvestre will be the first woman to lead the University of Ottawa since its inception in 1848. She will take over from President Frémont on July 1, 2025, for a five-year term.
About the University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is powered by research. Located in Canada’s capital, we bring together energetic and creative scholars to tackle urgent global challenges and to respond to emerging opportunities.
As one of Canada’s most innovative universities, we generate breakthroughs and discoveries that make a real difference in communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. Our thought leaders provide evidence-based insights that inform policy and support industry.
Our influence keeps growing due to our vast range of international partnerships, including our membership in the U7+ Alliance. As the world’s largest French-English university, we are a driving force in the Francophonie.
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