Patricia Paradis, (LLB, M.Ed. CMed.), is the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Studies at the University of Alberta. In that capacity she manages the Centre’s research and public education mandates, which includes editing the Centre’s two constitutional journals, and coordinating research projects, public events, academic conferences and symposia.

Patricia has had a lengthy career as a human rights educator and advisor – she taught “Human Rights Law in Canada” as a sessional instructor in the Faculty for 23 years and was nominated for three Excellence in Teaching Awards.. Prior to joining the Centre ibn 2010, she founded Paradis & Associates, a dispute resolution practice, where she worked in mediation and facilitation for 10 years. Patricia has served as the Chair or Board Director on several boards, notably as National Chair of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)  from 1995-1999. She is currently National Chair of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Dispute Resolution Section Executive, Past Chair of the CBA Constitutional and Human Rights Section Executive, and a Board Director with the Parkland Institute, and the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre. She is a recipient of a Women in Law Leadership (WILL) Award (2018) for her work in the community as well as a  LifeTime Achievement Award from LEAF (2010).