Concordia’s vice-provost for innovation in teaching and learning will depart for a new role at the Ontario College of Art and Design University
Sandra Gabriele: “I will miss the incredible people who make up Concordia.” | Image courtesy of OCAD University
Concordia is saying goodbye to one of its prominent academic leaders. Sandra Gabriele will assume the position of vice-president, academic and provost at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD U) as of August 18.
Gabriele joined Concordia in 2010 as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies. She was promoted to associate professor in 2013 and served as chair for the department from 2014-17 before assuming the role of vice-provost for innovation in teaching and learning in June 2017.
Engagement and collaboration
Gabriele has been a committed and transformative leader, driving and supporting initiatives that have reshaped how teaching and learning are approached at Concordia.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Gabriele played a critical role among a team of dedicated senior academics in helping Concordia to quickly pivot to remote learning and teaching.
Gabriele later chaired the Advisory Committee on Teaching and Learning (ACTL), which was responsible for building “Learning for Impact,” the strategic plan for teaching and learning, part of the larger, university-wide Future Concordia initiative.
During her tenure, Gabriele also chaired and oversaw the development of Concordia’s Sustainability in Curriculum Plan, which aims to support opportunities for sustainable learning.
Learning, the digital landscape and preparing students for the future
Among her many contributions, Gabriele spearheaded projects that integrated technology with pedagogy. Through her oversight of the Centre for Teaching and Learning’s activities and her collaboration with eConcordia, Gabriele worked to help foster the development of innovative ways of teaching, course design and course delivery at Concordia.
Gabriele also led the launch of FUSION Concordia, a major project backed by $2.5 million in funding from the Future Skills Centre, which fostered vital dialogue on skills development and directly paved the way for Humanities+. The co-curricular program is designed to help students translate their academic outcomes into enhanced employability. Simultaneously, her advocacy for accessibility resulted in the creation of eAccess, an initiative dedicated to making Moodle and eConcordia courses more accessible for students with disabilities.
A new direction
“I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside dedicated staff, passionate faculty and motivated students at Concordia. I will most miss the incredible people who make up Concordia,” Gabriele remarks. “The opportunity to push boundaries and rethink traditional teaching methods has been both challenging and deeply rewarding.”
Anne Whitelaw, provost and vice-president, academic, praised Gabriele’s remarkable contributions, noting, “Sandra’s leadership has been instrumental in driving our vision for innovative, student-centred learning. Her work on blending technology with pedagogy and integrating skills development in our curriculum has not only enriched our academic programs but has also set a new benchmark for excellence in higher education.”
Gabriele’s move represents both a loss for Concordia and an exciting gain for OCAD U. Her legacy of innovation and her passion for reimagining teaching and learning will continue to influence the academic communities at both institutions.
Gabriele holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Wilfrid Laurier University, an MA in Women’s Studies from St. Mary’s/Dalhousie/Mount Saint Vincent universities and a PhD in Communication Studies from Concordia University.
Find out more about the future of teaching and learning at Concordia.
