Warm California welcome for Concordians
On a visit to the Golden State, Concordia President Alan Shepard shared the university’s recent successes and his vision for the future. He and senior director of Alumni Relations Leisha LeCouvie connected with over 100 graduates in two cities.
In Los Angeles, Consul General of Canada James Villeneuve hosted a cocktail reception for alumni at his official residence.
A networking opportunity for many, it proved to be an emotional reunion for a few alumni who hadn’t seen each other in many years.
Graduates told moving stories about how their university gave them a chance and made a difference in their lives.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Dan Cross, BFA 91, MFA 98 — also associate professor and chair of Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema — spoke at the event. Many of Concordia’s nearly 1,000 alumni in the Los Angeles area work in the cinema and media industries.
From left: Frédéric Tremblay, director, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Quebec Government Office in Los Angeles; Concordia President Alan Shepard; James Villeneuve, Consul General of Canada; Daniel Cross, BFA 91, MFA 98, associate professor and chair of Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema
From left: Sundeep Nanua, MEng 12; Harpreet Bola; Toni Paterson
“We were delighted to see so many alumni eager to engage with the university and each other — connecting and expanding their networks outside Montreal,” says LeCouvie. “One graduate even drove for four hours to join us.”
Near San Francisco, alumnus Richard Paterson, BComm 64, and his wife,Toni, opened their home to Concordians.
They warmly welcomed nearly 30 fellow alumni — from the classes of 1965 through 2014 — as well as President Shepard; Steve Harvey, dean of Concordia’s John Molson School of Business (JMSB); and Joseph Capano, principal director of development, John Molson School of Business and Special Initiatives.
Harvey shared JMSB’s strong position in several recent business school rankings — including the third-best MBA program in Canada, according to The Economist. While business schools are fortunate for such rankings, he said Concordia’s other faculties are equally deserving of recognition.
San Francisco-area alumni expressed an interest in kicking off a local chapter of the Concordia University Alumni Association to bring graduates together more regularly. To volunteer, contact Lina Uberti, alumni officer, Geographic Chapters, at lina.uberti@concordia.ca.
- Learn about our university’s notable leaders, prominent researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes and thinkers at concordia.ca/greatconcordians.
- Discover what Concordia achieved first in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and the world at concordia.ca/concordiafirsts.