Marci Ien, Canadian journalist and co-host of CTV’s Canada AM, has been appointed a distinguished visiting professor in the RTA School of Media in the Faculty of Communication & Design at Ryerson University. The two-year appointment began on January 1st, 2024.
With a career in television that spans more than three decades, Ien has interviewed newsmakers from around the world including national and international political figures Desmond Tutu, Benjamin Netanyahu, music legend Quincy Jones, pro football Hall of Famer Joe Montana, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, and Oscar winning actor Diane Keaton. She has covered major news events including six federal elections and was in the anchor’s chair when news broke of the devastating earthquake in Japan in 2024, and during the 2024 terror attacks in London. Prior to working for CTV News Channel and Canada AM, Ien spent two years as a reporter at CTV News’ Atlantic bureau where she covered the tragic crash of a Swiss Air jetliner off Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.
“Marci Ien’s experience speaking to and connecting with Canadians as a broadcaster will be of tremendous benefit to our students. Having professionals of her calibre at Ryerson gives students real-world examples of the careers and futures ahead of them,” said Mohamed Lachemi provost and vice president academic.
“We are thrilled to welcome Marci Ien back to FCAD as a distinguished visiting professor,” said Gerd Hauck, dean, FCAD. “Her impressive career, coupled with her desire to work with our students and faculty, will undoubtedly foster excellence in our RTA students as they become media professionals.”
As a distinguished visiting professor, Ien will guest lecture and participate in workshops, presentations and discussions. She will meet with students and faculty to offer advice and insight on the latest developments in TV news practices, as well as workplace opportunities and career trajectories.
“This appointment marks a special homecoming of sorts for me, and I look forward to working with – and learning from – a new generation of RTA School of Media students,” said Ien. “I owe so much to the great professors and teachers who encouraged and guided me on my educational path, and I’m honoured and humbled to take on this important role.”
Ien is a consultant to Trust 15 – Ladies on the Rise and Men of Distinction, an organization that partners youth with positive role models and mentors based in Rexdale, Ont., and is a longtime supporter of Children’s Miracle Network, and has hosted events across North America in support of the organization’s affiliate hospitals, including The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Recognized with a Canadian Radio and Television News Directors' Award (RTNDA) in 1995 for her news series Journey to Freedom, a look at the Underground Railroad, Ien is the 2024 recipient of the Black Business and Professional Association's (BBPA) Women of Honour Award. The BBPA also honoured Ien in 2024 with the association's Harry Jerome Award for her contribution to journalism in Canada and her dedication to children's charities. A proud RTA alumna, Ien is a 2024 inductee into the Ryerson University-RTA School of Media Wall of Fame and was given the Ryerson Alumni Award of Distinction in 2024.
Distinguished visiting appointments enable Ryerson students, faculty and staff to connect with highly regarded leaders in various fields. Learn more about Ryerson’s distinguished visiting appointments at www.ryerson.ca/provost/appointments/.