John Milloy – former Ontario cabinet minister and member of provincial parliament for Kitchener Centre – has accepted a position as lecturer for the Master of Public Service (MPS) program.
“I have been greatly impressed with both the academic training and practical experience provided by the University of Waterloo’s MPS program as it prepares students for a successful career in government,” says Professor Milloy. “Having spent close to two decades working closely with public servants both in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park, I hope to bring an insiders perspective to the program.”
John Milloy served as the MPP for Kitchener Centre from 2003 to 2014, and held various cabinet positions during this time: Minister of Research and Innovation; Minister of Community and Social Services; Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities; Minister of Government Services; and Government House Leader. He also served as Legislative Assistant to former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. He holds an MA in International History from the London School of Economics and a PhD in Modern History from Oxford University.
"We are delighted that Dr. Milloy has joined the Master of Public Service program,” says program director Anindya Sen. “His experience as a Minister and Government House Leader will give students invaluable perspective and knowledge on how governments function and implement policies that are critical for societal well being and progress. His advice will also help in ensuring our courses remain balanced between theory and real life applications - a truly unique trait of the MPS program, that is responsible for the success of our graduates in different levels of government."
Professor Milloy will manage the professional mentorship program, which connects top students with public service leaders for guidance on career planning and assistance with networking. He will also lead seminars on crisis management in government and teach the Major Team Project course in the winter term.
“I see part of my role as identifying the specific skills needed for the changing public sector. As problems become more complex and politicians are forced to operate with shrinking resources and intense media scrutiny, it is imperative that we have public servants who can provide them with needed support in this increasingly complicated world.”
“Through the seminars I hope to bring in guest speakers, including senior public servants. I also hope to work with students to give them insight into areas like issues management – the ability of governments to analyze controversial situations and develop both communication and policy responses. Although this tends to be led by the political class, public servants can play an invaluable role.”
The Master of Public Service is a multidisciplinary program that combines academia with a practical curriculum and an eight-month co-op work term to fully prepare students to work in all levels of government. With over 140 graduates, MPS alumni work in fields of policy, economics, project management, research, communications, human resources, business development, health promotion, and advocacy.
As originally posted on the Waterloo Arts website.