In September, the Canadian Studies Center convened the first meeting of its newly created external advisory council. The council is chaired by the Honorable James Blanchard, former governor of Michigan and former United States ambassador to Canada, and is made up of university alumni as well as long-time supporters of the center; it is tasked with providing input on the center’s mission and initiatives, as well as advancement and alumni engagement.

The first meeting was held at the MSU Henry Center for Executive Development to coincide with the 2026 CN Forum.

Members of the external advisory council include:

• Hon. James Blanchard, chair and former Michigan governor and former U.S. ambassador to Canada
• Armando Benitez, an MSU alumnus and chief data and analytics officer and head of AI at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto
• Robert Greening, an MSU alumnus and former president of TJX Canada
• Jean-François Hould, Québec delegate in Chicago
• Deb Muchmore, an MSU alumna and board chair of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce
• Andrea Waldock Niethold, head of U.S. public and government affairs at Canadian National Railway
• Earl Provost, Ontario agent-general in Chicago
• Kayleigh VandenBussche Blum, an MSU alumna and a senior economist and associate director at Ford Motor Company

The external advisory council will meet periodically with center leadership to review the center’s initiatives and provide guidance and support.