Concordia has been without an athletics director for almost a year. Photo by Nicholas Di Giovanni.
Deputy provost Lisa Ostiguy leads the charge to find Patrick Boivin’s replacement
Concordia University has set up a search committee to find a new director for the recreation and athletics department.
The search committee will be chaired by deputy provost Lisa Ostiguy, according to Mary-Jo Barr, the university spokesperson, “and also includes a student service director, a vice-president and two athletes named by the coaches from two different sports.”
Although the former athletics director, Patrick Boivin, stepped down from his position in December 2016, the school has yet to hire his permanent replacement. Boivin, who was with the university for three years and headed the Concordia Stingers rebrand in September 2015, left the recreation and athletics department to become the president and CEO of the Montreal Alouettes.
After Boivin left, Concordia fired former assistant director John Bower in January 2017, according to The Link. Bower has since become the athletics director at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Alta.
D’Arcy Ryan, Concordia’s director of residence administration, has been the interim athletics director for nearly 10 months. Concordia University President Alan Shepard previously told The Concordian that having this many changes in an organization is normal, and the Stingers are in a renewal period.
“We took [Boivin’s departure] as an opportunity to do a full review of the program,” Shepard said, adding that academic programs typically get reviewed every five to seven years. “It’s been about nine or 10 years since we’ve done a review [of the athletics department].”
The review of the department began in January and was completed this summer. Barr said the review process involved meeting with members of the recreation and athletics staff, student-athletes, representatives from student services and Concordia Stingers alumni.
The Concordian has also learned that Jennifer Brenning, athletics director at Carleton University, was asked to assist in the department’s review.
“There was a survey sent to all members [of the recreation and athletics department] for their input,” Barr said in an email to The Concordian. “All internal feedback was summarized and reviewed with the recreation and athletics department for their further input.”
According to Shepard, Concordia funds more money into athletics compared to other universities, but he didn’t specify which universities they were compared to. He did not elaborate on what the department review meant for the search for a new athletics director.
Although the recreation and athletics department has been without a director for nearly a year, Barr said “the goal is to fill the position as soon as possible.”
Alan Shepard University President and Vice-Chancellor
The university president is responsible for the day to day administration of the institution. The president makes recommendations to the Board of Governors for their consideration and works with his vice-presidents, staff and faculty to raise the profile of the university through publicity, promotions and elevated enrollment.
Shepard was appointed by the Board of Governors late last year to replace interim President Frederick Lowy. He grew up in the United States but immigrated to Canada in 2002 and is a citizen. He comes to us fresh out of Ryerson University, where he occupied the position of Provost and Vice-President academic since 2007. Shepard has an undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College and a PhD in English from the University of Virginia.
Bram Freedman VP, Institutional Relations and Secretary-General
The Vice-President, Institutional Relations and Secretary–General is responsible for managing government and external relations, university governance, human resources and legal affairs. Among other things, his portfolio also encompasses “the promotion of the values of civility, equity and respect within the University” as well as “transparent and accountable university governance.”
Freedman is an attorney who was appointed in Feb. 2008. His title was modified from the original VP External Relations and Secretary–General in May 2011 because of the addition of the Human Resources to his description. In Oct. 2010, Freedman was appointed President of the Concordia University Foundation, an organization which manages funds donated to the university.
Lisa Ostiguy Interim Provost
While the search for a new Provost is set to begin shortly in the new academic year, an interim replacement has been chosen. Lisa Ostiguy, who served as interim Vice-Provost Teaching and Learning starting in Jan. 2012, is an associate professor and the chair of the department of applied human sciences. She has been a full-time faculty member since 1992.
Before coming to Concordia, she earned her PhD in Higher Education Planning, Policy and Leadership, at the University of Iowa. She has also taught at the University of Iowa and University of Regina.
Patrick Kelley Chief Financial Officer
The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for all things money related at Concordia. He oversees the allocation of funds, plans payment strategies, projects revenues and expenses for the university and is responsible for managing the institution’s budget.
Patrick Kelley has been Concordia’s Chief Financial Officer since July 2010 when he was officially appointed after a period of time spent as interim CFO. He has a degree in Mathematics from St. Bonaventure and continues to teach at the John Molson School of Business. He also served as ConU’s Executive Director, Strategic Plans, and as Special Advisor to the VP Services on IT.
Roger Côté VP Services
The Vice-President of Services is responsible for overseeing admission services, student services, health services, residence life, counselling and development, dean of students office, advocacy and support services as well as recreation and athletics. Côté was appointed VP Services June 9, 2011 after he became the associate vice-president in 2006.
Côté has a bachelor’s degree from the Universite de Montreal and an MEd from McGill University. He has filled several positions at Concordia since arriving in 1981, first of all as director of the Loyola Campus Centre, then as Acting Dean of Students, director of Financial Aid and Awards Office from 1984 to 2004, and finally as Executive Director of Enrolment and Student Services.
David Graham Senior advisor to the president
Graham has been at Concordia for a number of years and has filled several positions during that time. He came to ConU in 2005 when he was hired as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science and was promoted in 2008 to become the Provost and VP academic affairs. This summer, it was announced that Graham would not be seeking another mandate as Provost and has been appointed Senior Advisor to the President on internal strategy. He is set to take on his new position Sept. 1 of this year.
Graham is a specialist in early modern French literature with a PhD from University of Western Ontario. Before arriving at Concordia, he taught at schools across the country including Memorial University, the Royal Military College of Canada and Mount Allison University.
Andrew Woodall Dean of Students
The dean of students is responsible for directing and planning activities through his office, co-ordinating outreach programs, and overseeing the Loyola Multi-Faith Chapel. He is there to encourage and support students at Concordia and is readily available to address concerns in his offices on both SGW and Loyola campuses. He also advises student leaders and administrators alike on issues pertaining to student life.
Woodall was appointed June 20, 2011 after his time spent as the director for the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation. He has a master’s degree in management, specifically in Voluntary Sector Leadership, from McGill University.
Normand Hébert Jr. Chair of Concordia’s Board of Governors
The role of the Board of Governors chair is to conduct the meetings and ensure that the items on the agenda are addressed. In addition, the chair must provide leadership for the other board members and keep discussion orderly and polite.
After serving as the vice-chair of Concordia’s Board of Governors, Hébert has stepped up to replace former chair Peter Kruyt as of July 1, 2012. Hebert has a degree in commerce from Concordia and a law degree from the University of Ottawa. He has been president and chief executive officer of an automobile dealership for most of his career and sits as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Société des Alcools du Québec.
