Mary Catharine Lennon, PhD, is a global higher education strategist and executive leader known for advancing quality assurance, regulatory coherence, and evidence-informed policy across diverse systems. She specializes in leading complex, multi-stakeholder processes, steering sector-wide consultations, and driving system-level change.
Her work spans international and comparative higher education policy, with more than 40 publications addressing regulation, student success, graduate education, mobility, teaching and learning, quality assurance, and credential recognition. She has conducted institutional and program reviews and led national and international initiatives focused on quality enhancement, system alignment, and innovation. Across these roles, she bridges research, policy, and practice to support the development of coordinated, collaborative, and learner-centred higher education systems.
Dr. Lennon has held senior roles in research, strategy, and international engagement, including serving as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the International Network of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (INQAAHE), a global organization representing quality assurance bodies across regions. Her professional experience includes leadership positions focused on regulatory policy, international collaboration, and system-level strategy, as well as oversight of major research and special project portfolios.
She also holds an academic appointment at the University of Toronto with the Canadian and International Higher Education Centre at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).
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