STAFF

Matthew Mendelsohn, Director

Matthew has combined a distinguished academic career with senior executive experience in Government.

Prior to assuming his current position, Matthew served from 2004-2009 as a Deputy Minister in the Ontario government where he held responsibility, variously, for Intergovernmental Affairs, the Democratic Renewal Secretariat, and the Office of International Relations and Protocol. He also served as Associate Secretary to the Cabinet in Cabinet Office. 

Prior to joining the Ontario government, Matthew was a member of the Political Studies Department at Queen’s University for over a decade where he published widely on Canadian politics, Quebec politics, public opinion, federalism and democratic institutions. He also served as Director of the Canadian Opinion Research Archive.

From 1996 – 1998, Matthew took a leave from Queen’s to work with the federal government as a Senior Advisor in Privy Council Office, where he worked on national unity and constitutional issues, and served as team lead for public opinion research. 

Matthew received his B.A. from McGill University and Ph.D. from the l’Université de Montréal, and held a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia. Matthew serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations. matthew@mowatcentre.ca


Josh Hjartarson, Policy Director

Josh received a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto in 2005. Since then, he has lectured extensively in comparative and Canadian politics, including here at the U of T. His book on financial sector reform, Foreign Banks and Financial Reform, was published in 2009.

Josh also brings policy and management experience from the public sector, having served in various positions with the Government of Ontario in Intergovernmental Affairs, Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Finance.

Prior to beginning his Ph.D., he lived in Central Europe and worked for Bank Austria in its financial markets research division. He was born and raised in a small town in Alberta. josh@mowatcentre.ca


Laura Rosen Cohen, Communications Associate

Laura has an Honours B.A. in English and history and has worked in progressively more senior communications roles at U of T since 2002. In addition to her work at U of T, Laura's op-eds and feature articles have been published in the Globe & Mail, the Toronto Star, the National Post, and the Jerusalem Post among others. Her writing focuses on politics, history, disability issues and current affairs. She speaks French and Hebrew. laura@mowatcentre.ca

 

 


Shaun Young, Senior Policy Associate

Shaun has extensive experience in government and academia. He spent seven years in policy development and research planning in a number of ministries in the Ontario Public Service, including Municipal Affairs and Housing, Aboriginal Affairs, and, most recently, Health and Long-Term Care.

Shaun has taught public policy, Canadian government and politics, and political theory at the University of Toronto Scarborough, Carleton University, York University, and Brock University, and has published numerous books and essays in the areas of public policy and political theory. He is an External Associate at both the York Centre for Public Policy and Law and the York Centre for Practical Ethics.

Shaun has a doctorate in political science and held a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellowship at York University. shaun@mowatcentre.ca


Neville McGuire, Policy Associate

Neville holds a Master in Communication from Carleton University, where he studied organizational theory, activism and social change. Before coming to the Mowat Centre, he conducted policy research for several Ontario-based organizations, worked with marginalized youth in Ottawa and co-produced music for film and videogames. Neville grew up on a farm in the Ottawa Valley. neville@mowatcentre.ca

 

 


Valeria Sladojevic-Sola, Project Manager

Valeria holds a Journalism diploma from Humber College, and is also a part-time student working toward a degree in Political Science and International Relations here at U of T. Before joining the Mowat team, her administrative activities included conference and event organization, multi-media design, and coordinating federal and provincial research grants for the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering and for the Faculty of Nursing. Val also speaks Croatian. val@mowatcentre.ca

 

 


Jon Medow, Policy Associate

Jon completed a Master of Arts in political science at the University of Toronto in the summer of 2010. His M.A. research focused upon the ethics of immigration policy. Jon previously worked as a post-secondary eduction policy researcher at the Toronto office of the Educational Policy Institute.  Jon grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and became a permanent resident of Canada in 2009. jon@mowatcentre.ca


Michael Motala, Research Assistant

Michael is pursuing an H.B.A. with a specialization in international relations at Trinity College, University of Toronto. His research interests lie in Canadian foreign policy, Canadian identity and existentialism, international institutions, and organizational culture. michael@mowatcentre.ca


Kelsey Norman, Research Assistant

Kelsey recently earned her Master of Public Policy from the School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Toronto and received her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She has previously worked as a researcher in British Columbia, the United States, Croatia and Egypt on policy issues related to economic and social development. Kelsey grew up in southern California and is a dual Canadian-American citizen. kelsey@mowatcentre.ca


James Pearce, Policy Associate

James holds a Master in Public Administration from Carleton University and a Master of Arts in political science from the University of Toronto where he researched Canadian federalism and post-secondary education policy. He has previously worked as a research assistant for the publication How Ottawa Spends and as a counselor at a camp for children with learning disabilities. He grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. james@mowatcentre.ca


Negin Shamshiri, Research Assistant

Negin Shamshiri is completing a Master of Public Policy at the School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto. She holds an H.B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from U of T. As an intern with Canada’s World, she organized an event called Foreign Policy Camp. Negin has volunteered for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto in their College Park Court support program where she offered support and services to women who are in conflict with the law. She is active in her community, supporting human rights, equity, and community betterment. negin@mowatcentre.ca