University of Ottawa alumna Dawn Smyth (BSc Human Kinetics ’05) has turned her passion for basketball into a brilliant career. As NBA senior director of international basketball operations, she heads a team spread over 15 offices outside the U.S., supervising programs involving over 60 million people in 173 countries. A former player who became a coach after an injury, she mentions being a female role model when she was assistant coach of the Gee-Gees women’s basketball team: “I only had one female coach the entire time I played, and so showing up as a female role model was something that felt very rewarding.” Her time at the University of Ottawa, where she was exposed to the French language, made her more effective in her international collaborations, differentiating her from her American colleagues. Through her love of basketball, Smyth seeks to inspire people around the world and let them create ties through the sport.
This is uOttawa

Innovating to bolster Canadian scientific research in French
An op-ed co-written by Sylvain Charbonneau, vice-president, research and innovation, and Martine Lagacé, associate vice-president, research promotion and development, highlights the importance of a French-language scientific community in Canada. Pursuing education and maintaining a competitive, high-quality research environment are public goals that align with a more inclusive society, both in Canada and internationally. The 10 million francophones who live in Canada comprise a very important, dynamic and diverse population whose members can and must be educated and informed in their day-to-day language to properly understand the science behind the issues they face.

uOttawa alumna Dawn Smyth is helping the NBA bring basketball to the world

Partnership between FNMPC and uOttawa’s PE Program
The partnership between the First Nations Major Project Coalition (FNMPC) and the uOttawa Positive Energy (PE) program features research, training and outreach for policy, regulation and Indigenous-led involvement in major projects. It formally recognizes and expands the joint work of the two and will create training opportunities for Indigenous students at the University.
Alex Trebek Distinguished Lecture Series with Lisa LaFlamme
In conversation about her career, women in the media and the future of journalism - and democracy.
Design Day
Creativity and ingenuity on display! Students have worked closely with external partners of the faculty to develop solutions for real clients. This ev…
Special Convocation in Honour of Sam Tsemberis
The President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, Jacques Frémont, requests the honour of your presence at a special convocation to confe…