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Alan Shepard will step down as Concordia's president in 2019

Alan Shepard has announced he will step down as president and vice-chancellor of Concordia University in June 2019 to accept a position as president of Western University.

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Alan Shepard has announced he will step down as president and vice-chancellor of Concordia University in June 2019 to accept a position as president of Western University.

“It is with mixed emotions that I announce that I have accepted the presidency of Western University,” Shepard wrote in an open letter to Concordia students and faculty that was posted on the university’s website on Thursday.

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“Our achievements together are reflected in many ways — our record applications, enrolment and research funding; our steady climb in rankings; and the success of The Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen. NOW, to name a few. Concordia is on the move, and the world knows it.”

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Shepard joined Concordia in 2012 after serving as provost of Ryerson University in Toronto.

“Alan Shepard is a builder and inspiring leader,” Norman Hébert, chairperson of Concordia’s board of governors, said in a statement issued by the university late Thursday. He added that under Shepard’s leadership, the university has earned record research funding, steadily improved its national and international rankings, and has had success in fundraising.

“In an era when bold, urban universities are well positioned to thrive, Concordia is enjoying unprecedented opportunities and is positioning itself as a higher education leader in Canada. As he prepares to take on new challenges at a different kind of institution, I can truly say Alan has left Concordia much stronger than he found it, and the Board is extremely grateful.”

Concordia University has issued a set of guidelines that
Concordia University’s downtown campus is seen is seen in this November 2017 file photo. Photo by Ryan Remiorz /THE CANADIAN PRESS

The statement says applications and enrolment have grown, with Concordia today counting more than 8,500 international students and a total enrolment of more than 50,000.

Graham Carr, Concordia’s provost and vice-president of academic affairs, is to serve as interim president starting on July 1, the statement says. Carr, a professor of history, served as dean of graduate studies and vice-president of research and graduate studies at Concordia before becoming provost in 2016. Anne Whitelaw, a professor of art history and deputy provost, will serve as interim provost.

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