Dr. W. Andy Knight is a distinguished academic, currently serving as Professor of Political Science and Provost Fellow of Black Excellence and Leadership at the University of Alberta. He is a former Director of the Institute of International Relations at The University of the West Indies, and a co-founder of the Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean. Dr. Knight has an extensive publication record, including the award-winning book Female Suicide Bombings: A Critical Gendered Approach. He has held editorial roles in prestigious journals and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada since 2011. Recognized for his influence, he was named among Alberta’s top 50 most influential people and received the Harry Jerome Trailblazer Award. Additionally, he served on the Board of Governors of the International Development Research Centre from 2007 to 2011. In 2021, he was honored as a Distinguished Professor at the University of Alberta and held the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in International Area Studies at Yale University. In 2023, McMaster University awarded him an LLD honoris causa.

Dr. Carrie Smith (she/her) is the inaugural Vice-Provost for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Alberta. She has held previous academic leadership positions as Vice-Dean of Arts and as Department Chair. She is a Professor of German Studies with research spanning topics in critical university studies, feminist leadership practices, and digital feminism and feminist activism.