Dr. Mercer is the fourth President of Ramapo College, which has been ranked as number one among public comprehensive colleges in the north in U.S. News & World Report. He previously served both as dean of the law school and vice president (administration) and general counsel at the University of Western Ontario, where he was a professor of law. He also served as acting vice president for external affairs at Western Ontario and acting director of development.

A former visiting research scholar at the University of Michigan, he has also been a faculty member at the University of Calgary, the University of Detroit and the University of Windsor. He has received Teacher of the Year awards at the University of Calgary and the University of Western Ontario, and a Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of University Business Officers.

A published author on the legal profession and professional ethics, Dr. Mercer earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, an L.L.M. at the University of Cambridge and an L.L.B. at the University of Western Ontario, where he was awarded honors in English and philosophy. Recently, he was on a partial study leave serving as principal consultant to the Ontario Ministry of Finance on integrated supply chain management in the Ontario public sector.

Dr. Mercer has also served as a lead lecturer at the Banff Senior University Administrators’ Centre for a number of years. He will provide conference attendees with insights on trends and leadership in the Canadian postsecondary sector.