External Advisors

The University may appoint as Distinguished Visitors or Adjunct Faculty qualified individuals, normally from outside the University, who can make contributions to the University, its students, its research activities, and its academic programs.

The Department of Politics and Public Administration is honoured to host or co-host such visitors.

• Cathy Crowe – Distinguished Visiting Practitioner

• Dr. Robert Speel – Adjunct Faculty

The Department of Politics and Public Administration at TMU enjoys the active support of prominent administrators and employee representatives through a Program Advisory Council as mandated by University policy.

The Department’s Advisory Council, appointed under the provisions of  (PDF file) PDF fileSenate Policy #158 and Article 9.1 of the Departmental Bylaw, provides ongoing advice and expertise to ensure the curriculum remains current and relevant. These Council members bring to our programs an in-depth understanding of the educational and professional development needs required in the public, private, and third sectors. In addition to serving in a formal capacity as the Advisory Council for both undergraduate programs (Politics and Governance; Public Administration and Governance), Council members also serve as Advisory Consultants to the graduate program (Public Policy and Administration).

The Canada School of Public Service  (external link) (CSPS) organises the Deputy Minister University Champion Initiative  (external link) at the federal level.

Deputy Minister University Champions seek to strengthen linkages between the Government of Canada and Canadian universities. The Champions work with their designated universities to promote education and research of mutual interest, as well as to build awareness of career opportunities in
the federal public service and facilitate recruitment-related activities on campus.

Associate Deputy Minister Richard Wex was named Deputy Minister University Champion for Toronto Metropolitan University in May 2016.

Richard Wex was appointed Associate Deputy Minister, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) in September 2015.  His diverse team (external link)  is located at 365 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa. 

Prior to joining CIC, Mr. Wex served as the Vice-President, Programs Branch, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) from 2013 to 2015. In this capacity, he was responsible for policy and program development at the CBSA covering the full span of the CBSA's mandate from facilitating low risk travel and trade to strengthening the CBSA's security posture to prevent illegal goods and people entering or staying in the country. While at CBSA, Mr. Wex led the delivery of key Agency priorities, including the Beyond the Border Action Plan and worked to strengthen program management excellence by driving an Agency-wide "Program Integrity Agenda” and leading an organizational redesign to foster a stronger, better organized Agency.

From 2007 to 2013, Mr. Wex was the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Law Enforcement and Policing Branch at Public Safety Canada, where he provided strategic leadership and policy advice to the Minister of Public Safety in carrying out his responsibilities for the RCMP.  In this capacity, Mr. Wex led the successful multi-billion dollar negotiation of the 20-year RCMP Police Services Agreements with contracting provinces, territories and municipalities, and worked on numerous program and policy files in support of the Government's law and order agenda. While at Public Safety, Mr. Wex also worked to strengthen RCMP accountability through the establishment of a new civilian oversight body, developed laws and policies to fight serious and organized crime throughout Canada and at our borders, and led new cross-border law enforcement measures with the U.S.

Prior to joining Public Safety Canada, Mr. Wex held a number of executive positions with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, including Director General, Aquaculture Directorate and Director General of the Habitat Management Program. Mr. Wex began his public service career in 1993 with the Department of Justice, practising in the areas of Public and Aboriginal law.

Mr. Wex holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (L.L.B.) from Queen's  University, and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. He is also a graduate of the Public Service Advanced Leadership Program and the Senior Managers in Government course from the Kennedy School of Public Administration at Harvard.  Mr. Wex is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to the public service.

Martha Greenberg, Deputy Minister, Policy and Delivery and Associate Secretary of Cabinet, was appointed in December 2019 as the third Ontario Deputy Minister Champion, succeeding Steven Davidson, who served in that capacity from 2016 to 2019, and Marg Rapolt, who served as the first provincial Deputy Minister Champion from 2007 to 2014 .

In this role, Deputy Greenberg will continue to strengthen the connection between the Government of Ontario and the TMU community, and continue to build on the strong relationship that exists between TMU and the Ontario Public Service (OPS). She is committed to promoting mutual understanding across the two organizations and offering advice to students on how they can become the public servants of the future.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet with members of the public policy and administration program from TMU, and I’m very excited to take on the role of OPS DM Champion for TMU,” said Greenberg.

“I’m enjoying working with the Department of Politics and Public Administration to continue to strengthen TMU's position as a leader in public policy thinking and a training ground for tomorrow’s public servants,” Greenberg said.

“The OPS has benefitted from the terrific impact TMU grads make in our organization. My hope is that by sharing my experience and working with students and faculty, I might help students prepare for their next steps. By working together, we will continue to cultivate an innovative and people-focused public service in Ontario.”

In her current position, Greenberg works with all ministries in the OPS and the Premier’s Office to establish and manage the government’s policy and legislative agenda. In her last role, she was an assistant deputy minister in Cabinet Office responsible for stewarding the government’s policy agenda on the economy, environment, resource development, transportation, justice and intergovernmental affairs.

Greenberg holds a bachelor of science from Wilfrid Laurier University and a master of science from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Beginning in 2017, the Government of Ontario revised the OPS Fellowship Program, casting it as an "OPS Executive Fellowship program," with a distinct research mission. The holders of the fellowship are assigned to a project, rather than a specific university, university department, or program.

• 2018:  Anne Bermonte

From 2012 t0 2017, TMU’s Department of Politics and Public Administration was proud to host one of only three OPS Fellows in the Province. The OPS Fellowship was established in 2003, and TMU received its first Fellow in 2012. The program was supported by the Government of Ontario, and provided support for a senior OPS official to spend up to one year in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at TMU. During that time, the Fellow worked with our graduate and undergraduate students and raised the profile of the OPS as a centre of public policy excellence. The Fellow usually taught a graduate course, guest lectured in other courses, and worked with graduate students completing Major Research Papers or dissertations, among other activities.

The Department was honoured to host the following Ontario Public Service (OPS) Fellows: 

• 2016-17: Virginia Hatchette
• 2015-16: Aryeh Gitterman
• 2014-15: Donna Ratchford
• 2013-14: Susan Charendoff
• 2012-13: Shirley Phillips (inaugural OPS Fellow)