Installation of Dr. Alan Shepard as Concordia University's President

Montreal, October 23, 2012 – On Tuesday, October 30, Alan Shepard will be formally installed as president and vice-chancellor of Concordia University. The installation will take place at 10 a.m. during the first of three convocation ceremonies to be held that day in Salle Wilfrid Pelletier at Place des Arts (175 Sainte-Catherine Street West).

The installation of the president is steeped in tradition, and reflects the history of Concordia and its place within the larger academic community. As the ceremony is taking place during convocation, it is an opportunity to formally introduce the new president while recognizing Concordia’s legacy in higher education and the accomplishments and contributions of its graduates.

“Convocation is a milestone, a celebration of personal achievement in higher education,” says Shepard. “It marks the shining prospect of a better future, one in which our graduates will not simply be witnesses to history, but forces for constructive change and progress.”

After taking the oath of office, Shepard will become the ninth president of Concordia University since it was established in 1974 through the merger of Sir George Williams University and Loyola College.

Although the installation ceremonially formalizes Shepard’s position as president, he has been a dynamic presence at the university since arriving on August 1, 2012.  He has renewed the dialogue with students, faculty and staff, and connected with the external community that supports the university.

 “I am grateful for the warm welcome, friendly feedback and sage advice that Concordians have offered me since arriving in August,” says Shepard. “It is clear to me that many members of our community are eager to be part of the discourse about the kind of university we want to be, and the kind of society we want to live in.”

Shepard was previously Ryerson University’s provost and vice-president academic, where he had oversight of academic affairs, strategic planning and the budget. With extensive experience in university administration in Canada and the United States, he is passionate about making universities a better place to learn, teach, conduct research, work and contribute to the advancement of society.

Shepard earned an undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, where he won the George Weida Spohn Memorial Award, and a PhD from the University of Virginia. He grew up in Iowa, California, and Minnesota, immigrated to Canada in 2002 and is a Canadian citizen.