After obtaining her Ph.D. in Neuropsychology from Stanford University in 1977, Maryse Lassonde was Professor at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières from 1977–1988 and at Université de Montréal from 1988–2012, where she named Professor Emerita in 2013. Among her many research interests are the cognitive effects of childhood epilepsy and the effects of sport concussions. Lassonde is a published author of seven books and over 300 book chapters and articles in scientific journals. The recipient of many awards and honours for her work, she was made Fellow at the Canadian Psychological Association, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Royal Society of Canada. She was also appointed as Officer of the Order of Canada and was inducted as Knight of the Ordre national du Québec, where she chaired the Board of Directors from 2008–2010.
Dr. Lassonde was President of Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS) in 1993. She has also held a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Neuropsychology from 2001 to 2013. She was President of the Royal Society of Canada from 2015 to 2017. Lastly, she was also Scientific Director of the Fond Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies from January 2012 to July 2018 and is currently holding the position of President of the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation du Québec.
The Conseil supérieur de l’éducation (CSE) comprises 22 members – including its President – representing the field of education and other sectors of Québec society.
These members are appointed by the Government following consultation with associations or organizations that are most representative of students, parents, teachers, school administrators and socio-economic groups. The Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education or his or her substitute is ex officio an associate member, but is not entitled to vote.
The members of the CSE are appointed to a four-year mandate, which can only be renewed once.
The members of the CSE receive no salary, with the exception of the President, who has a full-time salaried position. The members of the CSE must adhere to its Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.