Born in Aylmer, Quebec in 1930, William Howard McConnell received his early eduction locally before moving across the Ottawa River to attend Carleton University. He earned his first degree, a B.A. in Philosophy, in 1955. Subsequent degrees include a B.C.L. from the University of New Brunswick in 1958, a M.A. in Political Science at Ottawa University in 1962, a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto in 1969 and a LL.M. in International Law from the University of Saskatchewan in 1970. Dr. McConnell was admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1958. From 1959-1963 he served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's Department, NDHQ, Ottawa, Royal Canadian Air Force. McConnell's first academic appointment came in 1966 when he joined the faculty of the Department of Political Science at Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec. McConnell became a member of faculty in the University of Saskatchewan's College of Law in 1970, moving through the ranks to become a full Professor five years later. His academic speciality is constitutional law and federalism, in which he taught and was published widely. Dr. McConnell retired from the University of Saskatchewan in 1998.