Associate Vice-President, International

Associate Vice-President, International Bessma Momani

Dr Bessma Momani

I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve as Associate Vice-President, International, leading Waterloo International. I joined the University of Waterloo in 2004 and am a Full Professor in the Department of Political Science.  I am also a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, DC. I am honoured to be recognized as a Fulbright Scholar and serve as a Governor on the board of the International Development Research Centre. I also serve on the Board of the Canadian International Council.

This journey in academia has allowed me to take on various administrative roles. Most recently, in 2022-23, I was the Assistant Vice-President, Research and International and in 2021-22 I was the Interim Associate Vice-President Interdisciplinary and Sponsored Research in the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International. I've also had the privilege of contributing my expertise through consultancy with the International Monetary Fund and Global Affairs Canada, focusing on international assistance research. As a frequent media and political analyst, I have contributed to editorial pieces in publications like The Globe and Mail, The New York Times, Time, The Economist, Newsweek, and the Washington Post. 

I plan to leverage these experiences to promote the University of Waterloo on the international stage and am keen to continue in leading and collaborating across our UWaterloo community. Together, we aim to support and propel the University's involvement in global issues to make impacts around the world.  

I am excited to foster meaningful connections that will benefit students, faculty and staff members as well as  contribute to elevating the global recognition of the University of Waterloo. Committed to advancing UW's strategic objectives, I am open to, and value, feedback as a means of continuous improvement. Together, let us embark on a journey to amplify the impact of the University of Waterloo worldwide, fostering collaboration and enhancing our global standing.

Please feel free to explore the Waterloo International website further to learn more about our initiatives .

Dr. Bessma Momani
Associate Vice-President, International