Meet our team

Lisa White, executive director

Lisa White is the inaugural executive director of equity at Concordia University. Lisa began her advocacy and policy work in academic spaces when she joined the Concordia Student Union Advocacy Centre in 2006. A Concordia alum, she has held key administrative roles such as Director of the Office of Rights and Responsibilities. Leading the Equity Office, Lisa now oversees the strategic implementation of recommendations centered on advancing equity and inclusion at Concordia. Lisa’s work is informed by more than a decade of experience in addressing issues of discrimination and equity in higher education spaces as well as social justice and community-based approaches.

Lisa’s role of executive director reports to Nadia Hardy, deputy provost and vice-provost, enrolment and student experience, with a dotted reporting line to Carolina Willsher, associate vice-president of Human Resources.

James Roach, director

As director of the Black Perspectives Office and Equity Office, James (he/him) plays a key role in advancing institutional strategies that promote Black perspectives and equity across the university. He is also responsible for implementing recommendations outlined in the final report of the President’s Task Force on Anti-Black Racism (PTFABR), in partnership with academic and non-academic units, students, faculty, staff, and external partners.

James’ work is informed by decades of experience in institutional communications roles at Concordia and for non-governmental agencies, commitment to anti-racism work, and collaborative approaches. He also chairs the Advisory Committee on Implementing Recommendations from the PTFABR.

A proud Concordia alumnus, James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Master of Science in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, and a Graduate Diploma in Knowledge Management.

Orphendy Charles, acting senior equity advisor

As acting senior equity advisor, Orphendy Charles draws on 15 years of cross-industry experience in advancing equity in private and public sectors. At Concordia, he has led initiatives to ensure equitable access to resources and inclusive workplaces in roles such as coordinator and operations supervisor. Fluent in multiple languages, Orphendy has developed partnerships with external organizations, implemented policies promoting equity, and created programs to mitigate unconscious bias and support respectful workplaces.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and an MBA from HEC Montréal, Orphendy combines strategic leadership with a deep commitment to fairness and representation.

Mark Andrew Galang Villacorta, senior equity advisor

Mark Andrew Galang Villacorta has been working in higher education administration with a focus on inclusive excellence, multicultural programming, and social justice education for over 15 years in the U.S. and Montreal. In his first role at Concordia as Senior Lead, Equity and Diversity, he focused on fostering and advancing equity within the faculties and the library. His major collaborative projects included the development and implementation of workshops on equitable recruitment, applicant employment equity surveys, and providing support for faculty recruitment via the role of Equity Advocate. In addition, he worked in partnership to launch the University’s inaugural Equity Census, and to develop and update its CRC EDI Action Plan.

As the Senior Equity Advisor in the Equity Office, Mark seeks to continue to develop the work he began in his previous role, while expanding opportunities for deeper engagement, learning and dialogue around issues of anti-oppression and social justice. He hopes to cultivate and participate in multiple, integrated, communities of practice. This work will support the sustainability and vitality of the Concordia community, as well as enable a sense of empowerment and institutional belonging for all members of our community.

Bofta Weldetnsae, equity advisor 

Bofta Weldetnsae is the equity advisor at Concordia University. In this role, Bofta is responsible for developing and delivering equity educational programming and consultation services with a focus on student experiences to Concordia students, faculty and staff.

Since 2012, Bofta has worked in various academic and non-profit organizations, bringing with her a commitment to equity and the desire to help enact meaningful change in post-secondary institutions. Her work is informed by her love of community, education, and social justice. She completed a joint honours undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa in Women’s Studies and Sociology and hopes to never stop learning and expanding her perspectives.  

Mark Underwood, facilitator

Mark (he/they) is a Facilitator at the Equity Office and is responsible for developing, facilitating, and evaluating in–person and online education and training for Concordia’s sexual violence awareness and prevention efforts.

Mark holds a bachelor's degree from the School of Community and Public Affairs at Concordia as well as a master’s degree in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia’s Department of Applied Human Sciences. With over a decade of experience developing and facilitating workshops on topics such as sustainability, climate justice, and organizational development, Mark enjoys any opportunity to combine experiential and dialogic learning methods to hold space for groups to have discussions about complex issues.

Chistopher Plenzich, project lead

Christopher is the Project Lead in the Equity Office, bringing over seven years of project management experience, including four years at Concordia University. His primary responsibilities include ensuring that the day-to-day projects of the Equity Office remain on track and facilitating the planning, organizing, and execution of the Standing Together against Racism and Identity-based Violence (STRIVE) Task Force activities.

Christopher earned a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and a master's degree in Biology from Concordia University. He aims to leverage his experience as a student and staff member to help foster inclusive environments for Concordia's diverse student body and create equitable opportunities for all.

Pamela Adedje, department assistant

Pamela is the Department Assistant in the Equity Office and Black Perspectives Office. She assists in the day-to-day organization of the units, and she is the first point of contact for information about services, programs, scheduling, and resources. She is also the Committee Coordinator for the President’s Task Force on Anti⁠-⁠Black Racism's Advisory Committee.

Pamela holds a master's degree in Translation Studies from Concordia University. She has years of administrative experience working with Concordia’s diverse community of students, staff and faculty in departments such as the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities. Committed to building a community of belonging, Pamela brings equity and inclusion into every aspect of her work.