The External Advisory Council or Outreach Council is a team of no more than ten “friends of the center” who are well positioned to enrich the Canadian Studies Center through strategic guidance on the center's mission, reach, and fundraising efforts.
External Advisory Council members come together at least once per a year for an in-person meeting in East Lansing.
Honorary Chair
Hon. James Blanchard
Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada
Former Michigan Governor
Canadian Studies Center External Advisory Council
Armando Benitez
Chief Data and Analytics Officer and Head of AI
BMO Capital Markets
Robert Greening
Former President
TJX Canada
Jean-François Hould
Québec Delegate in Chicago
Deb Muchmore
Board Chair
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Andrea Waldock Niethold
Head of U.S. Public and Government Affairs
Canadian National Railway
Earl Provost
Ontario Agent-General in Chicago
Kayleigh VandenBussche Blum
Senior Economist and Associate Director
Ford Motor Company
Titles for identification purposes only.