Stephen Toope

Vice Chancellor

University of Cambridge

Professor Stephen J. Toope OC LL.D. became the 346th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in October 2017. He joined Cambridge after a distinguished career as a scholar and academic leader. He was Director of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs (2015-2017), and before that President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. He served as President of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, and as Dean of Law at McGill University. His academic interests are in international law, human rights, international legal theory and international development. He studied History and Literature at Harvard University before earning degrees in common law and civil law at McGill University. He is an alumnus of Trinity College, Cambridge, where he completed a PhD under the supervision of Sir Derek Bowett. Among the distinctions he has received are the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (2012), the United Way of Canada President’s Award of Distinction (2014) and the John Read Medal of the Canadian Council of International Law (2015). In recognition of his service and accomplishments, in 2015 he was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada – one of Canada’s highest honours.