Stéphane Dion is coming back to Université de Montréal.
Resettled in Montreal after nearly a decade in Europe, the former federal cabinet minister and ambassador to Germany and France has accepted a position as 'diplomat in residence' in the Faculty of Arts and Science.
Dion will make himself available to professors and students to discuss subjects in which he is expert: foreign policy, political leadership, public administration, and the environment, particularly the global water crisis.
"A university is and always will be a forum for debate and the advancement of science – and once again I'm here to be part of that," said Dion, an Université Laval alumnus who last taught at UdeM as a professor of political science from 1984 to 1996.
"It's only natural for political scientists to return to university in some capacity after their career in public service comes to an end, and at UdeM, I'll be doing exactly that: lending my expertise," he said.
On subjects as varied as climate change and the management of water resources worldwide ("the challenge of our century," he believes) to democracy and international peace and security in Europe, with his wide experience and high profile Dion is giving back to his academic community.
"I'll be able to share my experience in various courses, at the invitation of professors; I'll participate in conferences or perhaps give some myself," he said. "I'll help students with research projects on which I might have an informed point of view. I'll essentially be open and available to all."
