Dawn Russell biography archive

Universities Canada board director

Dawn Russell joined St. Thomas University as president and vice-chancellor in July 2011.

Ms. Russell is a director on the board of Universities Canada and serves on the association’s Governance Committee.

Previously, she was dean of the Dalhousie Law School for ten years and an associate lawyer with Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales.

Throughout her career, Ms. Russell has been active in the community and a leader in the legal profession. Among many activities, she was a founding member of the Centre for Law and Democracy, served on the Maritime Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, and was a long-time executive member of the Lawyers for Social Responsibility. She is an honorary fellow of the Canadian Bar Law for the Future Fund, was appointed Queen’s Counsel, and received the Francis Fish Award for Excellence and Leadership in the Legal Profession.

Ms. Russell earned her bachelor of arts from St. Thomas University and a bachelor of laws from Dalhousie Law School. She subsequently earned a master’s in international law from Cambridge University.