The Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management at Carleton University is pleased to announce the appointment of William Stairs as practitioner-in-residence for the 2017–18 academic year.
The former CEO of Delta Media, Stairs spent two decades working in federal politics. He served as director of communications for two federal party leaders, as well as director of issues management for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Stairs holds a PhD from Université Laval.
Stairs will be teaching two courses on strategic communications, acting as mentor to students, and organizing public events.
William Stairs (2011)
The Riddell program offers Canada’s only graduate degree in applied politics. Twenty-five students are admitted each year to study Canadian political institutions, strategic communications, public opinion research, leadership, advocacy, policy, and campaigns. Graduates work for Cabinet ministers, members of Parliament, senators, government relations firms, advocacy organizations, and business associations.
Stairs is the program’s third practitioner-in-residence, following media relations consultant Bill Fox (2015–16) and public affairs specialist Rob Silver (2016–17).
Rachel Curran
The program has also hired Rachel Curran and Paul Thomas to teach courses, replacing core faculty member Paul Wilson while he is on sabbatical in 2016–17. Curran is a management consultant who previously served as Stephen Harper’s director of policy. She holds a law degree from the University of Victoria.
Paul Thomas
Thomas is a postdoctoral fellow at Carleton University. Before earning a PhD from the University of Toronto, he worked in the office of Senator Yoine Goldstein.
Other courses are taught by former Conservative party campaign chair Guy Giorno, pollster David Coletto, and core faculty members Jennifer Robson and Stephen Azzi.
For more information, contact Stephen Azzi, associate professor and program supervisor, Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management, stephen.azzi@carleton.ca.