The faculty is proud to welcome Professor Jennifer Spence as holder of the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Arctic Governance and Community Resilience. Based at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), Professor Spence will contribute internationally recognized expertise in Arctic governance, climate resilience and international research cooperation.
The Arctic is undergoing profound environmental, geopolitical and technological transformation. Climate change is reshaping ecosystems, infrastructure and communities, while geopolitical tensions and emerging technologies are creating new challenges for governance and international cooperation.
For Canada, these questions are also closely connected to sovereignty and the country’s role in the Arctic. Located in the heart of the national capital, the University of Ottawa and FSS are uniquely positioned to bring research into conversation with the public institutions, policymakers, Indigenous organizations, international partners and communities shaping Canada’s approach to the region.
“The Arctic is an essential part of Canada’s sovereignty, and the challenges facing the region require us to bring together expertise from across disciplines. Jennifer Spence is a recognized leader in Arctic governance, and her arrival will strengthen the connections between her work and the considerable expertise already present at FSS and across uOttawa. We are very pleased to welcome her to the faculty.”
— Nathan Young, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences
For Professor Spence, joining uOttawa also creates an opportunity to build connections between research, institutions and communities at a pivotal moment for the Arctic.
“What excites me most about joining FSS is the opportunity to connect research with the people and institutions shaping the future of the Arctic. I look forward to building partnerships across research and northern communities.”
Jennifer Spence - Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada
Connecting research, policy and northern communities
Working with governments, Indigenous organizations, northern communities, researchers and international partners, Professor Spence’s research program will develop and test practical approaches to strengthen coordination and decision-making from the local to the international level.
Her work will focus on four interconnected areas: adapting governance institutions to rapid change; sustaining international research cooperation and science diplomacy; advancing Indigenous-led governance innovation; and co-creating approaches that strengthen community resilience.
The Chair also reflects a broader FSS commitment to research that connects academic excellence with the needs of communities and decision-makers.
“Research matters most when it leverages community, experience, and rigor, and uses that knowledge to respond to real human needs and to drive positive change. Jennifer’s work embodies that spirit of engagement.”
Mark Salter - Vice-Dean, Research and Professional Development
Strengthening a multidisciplinary community of Arctic expertise
Professor Spence’s arrival builds on expertise already present across FSS and uOttawa and creates new opportunities to connect perspectives from public and international affairs, political studies, economics, sociology, environmental policy and other disciplines relevant to the rapidly evolving Arctic.
At GSPIA, this multidisciplinary approach is central to understanding complex public policy and international challenges. Professor Spence’s presence will further strengthen the school as a space where academic research, policy expertise and practice intersect, while creating new opportunities for collaboration and student engagement.
“GSPIA has built a strong community focused on major public and international issues. Jennifer’s expertise will enrich that community, opening new opportunities for our research and students. We are thrilled to welcome her to the school.”
Costanza Musu - Director of the School of Graduate Studies of Public and International Affairs
Professor Spence will also contribute to uOttawa’s Arctic Research Hub and will be cross appointed to the Faculty of Arts, further strengthening connections across disciplines and supporting the University’s broader commitment to Arctic research.
International expertise in Arctic governance
Professor Spence is an internationally recognized scholar-practitioner specializing in Arctic governance, climate resilience and international research cooperation.
Before joining uOttawa, she served as Director of the Arctic Initiative at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School. She previously served as Executive Secretary of the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group and held research and teaching positions at Carleton University and the Centre for International Governance Innovation.
Throughout her career, Professor Spence has contributed to international discussions on Arctic governance, science diplomacy and Indigenous participation in Arctic decision-making. She has led and contributed to collaborative Arctic research initiatives mobilizing more than US$42 million and has supervised or mentored more than 40 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Her appointment strengthens FSS’s capacity to address some of the most consequential questions facing Canada and the Arctic, while creating new connections across disciplines, public institutions and communities.
Professor Spence is one of seven globally recognized researchers recently welcomed to uOttawa as holders of the new Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada, further strengthening the University’s research capacity in areas of strategic importance to Canada and the world.
Get to know Professor Jennifer Spence and discover her research on Arctic governance and community resilience.