Engineering winning relationships
At Concordia, many of the connections between faculty members, students and alumni stay strong for generations. On April 12, at a festive event hosted by the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and co-sponsored by the Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Chapter, many new connections were forged, and longstanding connections were celebrated.
The evening’s master of ceremonies, Ali Akgunduz, also an associate dean with the Faculty, perhaps said it best in his introductory remarks, “What distinguishes a great institution is a strong relationship with alumni.”
Véronique Tokateloff, outgoing president of the Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Chapter, gave a short speech to the crowd of over 60 people. Later, in a phone interview, she recalled her own student years at Concordia, and the importance of participation in student associations to the learning experience. She was heavily involved in the Engineering and Computer Science Association (ECA) and in the Society of Automotive Engineers and competed in the Aero Design competition.
“I remember crashing our plane two weeks before the competition,” she said, with a laugh. “We were successful in rebuilding it and still went on successfully to compete.”
When discussing the career path engineers follow, she said “It’s important to see what your strategy is and constantly re-evaluate it and change it over time to best reflect your priorities and personality. Networking is also important. Our alumni chapter can help with building and maintaining that network.”
Another of the evening’s speakers provided a shining example of how giving back to one’s alma mater affords opportunities for genuine institution-building. Xavier-Henri Hervé, who graduated from the Faculty in 1987, went on to co-found Mechtronix, a flight simulation software company. In 2007, his company donated a flight simulator to Concordia; he received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2011; and now Hervé continues to help push the envelope with District 3, the university’s new platform for entrepreneurship and innovation, housed on the seventh floor of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex.
“Uniting alumni with students is one of the chief advantages we have with District 3,” said Hervé. “It works for both sides--alumni have experience and leadership, students have creativity, enthusiasm and bold new ideas. The combination holds huge potential.”
Graduating student and outgoing president of the ECA, Ali Talhouni, also in attendance on April 12, said, “I was really pleased with the alumni cocktail. I think it is a great idea, and we should have more of them. Dr. Akgunuduz's vision of building stronger ties with Concordia alumni is great. I am currently transitioning from a student to alumni and this has been extremely helpful.”
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