Meet Marie-Eve Sylvestre, the new University of Ottawa president who sees a world of possibilities

Marie-Eve Sylvestre, the new University of Ottawa president, personifies unifying leadership. “I want to go meet people and be among them. I want our campus to be a destination of choice,” she says. Her invitation to “join me,” expressed loud and clear in the days following her appointment, is an unequivocal call to those who wish to contribute to a socially engaged, inclusive and forward-focused university.

This warm, open approach builds on an outstanding career that combines laying down local roots and creating an international profile. A renowned interdisciplinary researcher, a graduate in law from the Université de Montréal, with a master’s and a doctorate (SJD) from Harvard, Sylvestre was dean of the Civil Law Section of the Faculty of Law and co-chair of the uOttawa Senate Committee on Academic Freedom. She’s also a member of the board of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the board of governors of the National Judicial Institute and the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada.

A vision to meet the challenges of our time

For Sylvestre, the University of Ottawa must be rooted in its milieu, engage in conversations with people, community partners, and public and private sector decision-makers, and meet community needs. She says that this calling is exemplified by the research currently being done at the University of Ottawa, which she calls “outstanding,” both for its growth and for its relevance. Health care, innovation, artificial intelligence, social justice, the environment: the great challenges of our time are at the heart of the research on campus.

Her keen understanding of current issues — academic freedom, institutional autonomy, budgetary constraints — fuels her determination to combine academic ambition and responsible management. She thus intends to advocate for the University’s mission, while sustaining the research intensity that has made uOttawa’s reputation in Canada and around the world.

Ambitious? Realistic and necessary for a president inspired by the power of the collective. Sylvestre sees the University as a focal point: a destination for knowledge, but especially for shared transformation for all. She believes that the University of Ottawa will continue to take its place as a driver of change by drawing on the dynamism of the university community and an influential network of partners.

Strengthening partnerships, the Francophonie and Indigenization

Three overarching priorities will shape the start of her term. Firstly, she wishes to strengthen links with the community. Mentioning the unique qualities of the national capital — a centre for policy-making, a diplomatic crossroads, a technological hub and a lively cultural space — Sylvestre sees it as an ecosystem that lends itself to enriching the university experience, stimulating research and innovation, and shedding light on society’s major debates. She also sees the future Advanced Medical Research Centre, as well as partnerships with the Kanata North tech park and affiliated hospitals, as opportunities to connect the campus to its locale.

Her second priority is promoting the Francophonie in all its diversity and vitality. Sylvestre sees it as a focus of uOttawa’s identity and a concrete commitment. She would like the University to continue to fully serve Franco-Ontarians and play its role as a leader in knowledge promotion and research in French. A Quebec native and a Franco-Ontarian by choice for 20 years, she’s led several promising projects, including the French language certificate in Indigenous laws and the Jurivision.ca platform. For her, the francophonie is a driver of innovation, equity and collaboration.

Finally, she plans to offer concrete, lasting support for Indigenous knowledge creation and languages. For her, this requires respect, listening and consistency. She would like to strengthen existing relationships with the Algonquin Anishinabeg nation, support Indigenous research, integrate Indigenous knowledge and languages in programs and encourage Indigenous representation and presence among professors and support staff.

These priorities set the tone for a strong focus on action as she starts her term.

Amplifying a movement of ideas, action and innovation

Sylvestre invites researchers, public partners, innovative businesses, regional cultural and social leaders — and everyone else who want to think, build and act — to join with the University of Ottawa. She believes that uOttawa can build a world of possibilities that reflects itself — bilingual, inclusive, vibrant and firmly focused on the future.

“Together, we will transform our university, our city, our country — and the world in which we live.”