President Emeritus

John McLaughlin

Dr. McLaughlin served as UNB President between 2002 and 2009. During his tenure, the university undertook the largest fund raising campaign in the history of Atlantic Canada, had one of the largest increases in research funding of any comprehensive university in the country (coupled with an outstanding record of commercialization), strengthened its standing in the national academic rankings, made the largest capital investments in its more than two century history, launched a major outreach initiative (the Next NB Project) and significantly enhanced the quality of its academic programs and student experience.

Professionally, Prof. McLaughlin has an academic background in engineering and institutional economics. He has worked in more than 40 countries on property reform and land administration, and co-founded two companies.

He has authored or co-authored more than two hundred publications, including three books published by Oxford University Press and a series of monographs published by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Dr. McLaughlin has supervised or co-supervised more than a hundred graduate students and has had academic appointments at a dozen universities (including Hong Kong Polytechnic where he is currently an Honorary Professor).

Dr. McLaughlin has chaired or been a member of many boards, including Service New Brunswick, Huntsman Marine Science Centre, the Canadian Space Agency, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission, the Canadian Rivers Institute, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Council of Canadian Academies and the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design.

Most recently, he chaired the panel on the Seniors Agenda for the Alward Government and currently is a member of the N.B. Hydraulic Fracking Commission. Professor McLaughlin is also currently Scholar in Resident in the Technology, Management and Entrepreneurship program where he co-teaches a graduate course on "Leadership in an Era of Deep Change".

Prof. McLaughlin has been recognized as one of Atlantic Canada's top CEOs by Atlantic Business Magazine, was the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, and received the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals (Golden and Diamond). He is a member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of New Brunswick. John and his wife Maggie have three children and five grandchildren.

Contact the President Emeritus

John McLaughlin
President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton Campus
Head Hall, Room E-29
506 453 4545
jdm@unb.ca