Lorna Jean (LJ) Edmonds is a global health and education leader and community advocate who is deeply committed to growing the richness and livelihood of rural communities. She has held progressive leadership roles in the health and community services sectors with most of her career in higher education and research. Prior to retiring in 2020, LJ was the Vice Provost of Global Affairs and International Studies and a professor at the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University. Today she is an active grandmother, mother, partner and community leader and volunteer who lives in rural Hartington, Ontario.

 

LJ has lived and worked in urban and rural communities in Ontario, the United States and internationally and has experienced the disparity, seen the opportunities and served to bring about important changes to improve services and access and to foster innovation. She has collaborated with colleagues and partners in the university, public and private sectors, governments and multilateral agencies to lead major programs for which a number were transformative. She credits her inclusive, engaging and can-do approach to mobilizing change and overcoming barriers to the many years she worked with, and learned from disability leaders, health professionals, educators and community leaders in Ontario and worldwide. She will bring this experience, energy, and drive to her role as your next MPP.

 

LJ holds a BA in science from Queen’s University, a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Ottawa and a PhD in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.