Concordia appoints new VP Advancement starting Dec. 1

Concordia graduate Paul Chesser returns to his alma mater on December 1, 2018, when he steps into the role of vice-president, advancement.

With 20 years of fundraising experience in the higher education sector, Chesser has led planned and annual giving programs as well as major philanthropic campaigns. He has also spearheaded strategies to engage staff, faculty, volunteers, donors and alumni.

“The hiring committee was impressed by Paul’s passion and enthusiasm for implementing successful development initiatives, which have contributed to enhancing donor, volunteer and alumni relations. This is certainly an important part of the work that he will be doing here,” says Concordia President Alan Shepard.

Chesser is currently the assistant vice-principal, development, at McGill University, a position he has held for close to five years. Prior to joining McGill, he was Carleton University’s chief development officer, where he led the university’s $300-million comprehensive campaign, the largest in Carleton’s history. He also served as director of annual giving at Queen’s University.

“I started my career in advancement at Concordia, so to come back in a senior leadership role is a very exciting opportunity,” he says.

“I also have fond memories of my time as a student and especially as the former captain and member of the football team. From this experience, I learned how to be a better leader and really understand the dynamics of effective teams.”

Chesser graduated from Concordia with a BA in Economics in 1994 and earned a graduate diploma in Sports Administration from the university’s John Molson School of Business in 1997.

He was named Concordia Male Athlete of the Year in 1994 and inducted into the Concordia Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

As vice-president, advancement, he will lead Concordia’s fundraising and alumni stewardship activities as well as the university’s most ambitious appeal to date, the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen. Now. This major effort supports the nine strategic directions that cement Concordia’s position as Canada’s next-generation university.

Chesser is a certified fundraising executive and has been an active volunteer within the philanthropic community.

He has served on numerous association boards and has presented at conferences for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Shepard thanks Marcel Dupuis

Marcel Dupuis assumed the role of vice-president on an interim basis on July 6, 2018, after outgoing VP Bram Freedman left to become CEO and president of the Jewish General Hospital Foundation.

“Marcel has been a great asset to Concordia, especially during the launch of our Campaign for Concordia. I’d like to extend my sincere and warm thanks to him for his contributions and for serving as VP on an interm basis,” says Shepard.

On December 1, Dupuis will return to his previous position as associate vice-president, development.