The Honourable A. Anne McLellan, P.C. was appointed academic director in July 2007 and distinguished scholar in residence in May 2006 at the University of Alberta in the newly-established Institute for United States Policy Studies. She is currently researching issues in "Borders and Boundaries" in the context of North America, as well as exploring issues of women in federal politics.

She joined Bennett Jones LLP as Counsel in its Edmonton office in July 2006, where she provides strategic advice to the firm and its clients. Ms. McLellan serves on the boards of directors of Nexen, an independent, Canadian-based global energy company and Agrium, a global producer and marketer of agricultural nutrients and industrial products and a major retail supplier of agricultural products and services. She also sits on the Royal Alexander Hospital Foundation, the Community Outreach Committee for the Lois Hole Hospital for Women and is Chair of the Friends of the Legal Resource Centre, an organization that promotes access to justice.

Ms. McLellan served four terms as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, from October 25, 1993 – January 23, 2006. She served as Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and as the first Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness in the government of the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin (December 2003 - January 2006). In addition to her ministerial duties, she chaired two Cabinet committees: the Operations Committee and the Public Health, Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee. As Deputy Prime Minister, she was an ex-officio member of all other Cabinet committees.

Ms. McLellan served as Minister of Health (January 2002 – December 2003), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (June 1997 – January 2002) and Minister of Natural Resources and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians (November 1993 – June 1997).

From 1976 to 1980, Ms. McLellan was an assistant professor of law at the University of New Brunswick. In 1980, she was appointed associate professor of law at the University of Alberta. She served as associate dean of the Faculty of Law between 1985 and 1987 and was acting dean from July 1991 to June 1992.

Ms. McLellan has also served on the board of directors of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Alberta Legal Aid and was Vice-President of the University of Alberta's Faculty Association.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Law degree from Dalhousie University and a Master of Laws degree from King's College, University of London. Ms. McLellan was admitted to the Bar of Nova Scotia in 1976.