John Cabot University is honored to welcome Dr. Antonia Maioni, who officially assumed her role on July 1, 2026, as the University’s seventh President. Dr. Maioni succeeds President Franco Pavoncello, who has stepped down after over two decades of dedicated and inspirational leadership.
Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, President Maioni is the first woman to lead John Cabot University. She brings to the presidency a distinguished record of academic leadership, international engagement, and a deep commitment to student-centered education. Her experience and vision position her well to guide the University through its next chapter of growth and strategic development.
President Maioni joined JCU following a long and accomplished career at McGill University, where she served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 2016 to 2021 — the first woman to lead the university’s largest faculty, home to the social sciences, humanities, and liberal arts. During her tenure, she oversaw significant academic renewal, including the launch of the Max Bell School of Public Policy and the expansion of international programs, notably in Italy through partnerships with Sapienza University of Rome and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Bologna. She also previously served as Associate Vice-Principal for Research and International Relations and as Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada.
A scholar of political science and public policy, President Maioni has built an international reputation for her research in comparative health policy and politics. Over the course of her career, she has exemplified the role of the public intellectual, bringing scholarly insight into broader public conversations and helping to make complex issues accessible and relevant beyond academia in the service of democratic life.
A strong advocate for the humanities and social sciences, President Maioni has consistently emphasized their central role in shaping critical thinking and informed citizenship. She has argued that “the humanities teach us how to ask better questions — and better questions lead to better answers,” a perspective that closely aligns with John Cabot University’s liberal arts mission.
Throughout her career, President Maioni has also been recognized for her collaborative and inclusive leadership style. Colleagues and former students frequently highlight her intellectual rigor, her openness, and her commitment to mentorship of future generations of leaders.
Her academic journey includes an undergraduate degree from Université Laval in Quebec City, an MA in international affairs from Carleton University in Ottawa, and a PhD in political science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She has held visiting and research appointments internationally, including as the William Lyon Mackenzie King Professor at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and as a Fellow at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Bologna. Dr. Maioni speaks English, French, and Italian, and is a citizen of both Canada and Italy.
“It is an honor and a genuine pleasure to accept the invitation to lead John Cabot University into a new chapter in its history,” said President Maioni. “I enthusiastically embrace the University’s mission of providing an international liberal arts education inspired by Rome, a global hub of cultures. I look forward to joining John Cabot’s dynamic and diverse community and building on the enduring legacy of President Franco Pavoncello, as we move forward into an exciting future.”
