May 19, 2005 – On behalf of Concordia University’s Board of Governors, Chair Alain Benedetti is proud to announce the appointment of Claude Lajeunesse as its President and Vice-Chancellor for a five-year term beginning August 1, 2005. The appointment was ratified at the Board’s meeting earlier today.
“Concordia University has the potential to be one of Canada’s leading universities. Dr. Lajeunesse is exactly the right person at the right time to lead it into the next phase of growth and excellence,” said Mr. Benedetti, who also chaired the search committee that recommended Dr. Lajeunesse. “His deep knowledge of teaching and research along with his excellent management skills and track record in managing change will serve him well in his new position. He is a well-rounded leader.”
Claude Lajeunesse comes to Concordia from a ten-year mandate as President and Vice-Chancellor of Ryerson University in downtown Toronto. Under his leadership, Ryerson experienced rapid growth, increasing its undergraduate student population by 43% and the enrolment at the Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education by 50% (credit & non-credit courses). The number of full and part-time programs grew substantially and Ryerson developed 13 new Master’s and PhD programs and opened six new buildings worth $210 million.
“After ten exciting years at Ryerson, it is a privilege and honour to be selected to lead Concordia University,” said Dr. Lajeunesse. “I share its fundamental values of excellence, accessibility, collegiality and equity. I also recognize the remarkable work of Dr. Lowy and his contribution to building this fine institution. I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students and the senior leadership team to fulfill all of Concordia’s brilliant potential—with the support of the Board, alumni and friends of the university.”
Claude Lajeunesse has experienced the university world from many different perspectives, which will stand him in good stead at Concordia: as a teacher, as an administrator, as a researcher and as an executive in charge of major grants. He holds a PhD (1969) and a Master of Science (1967) in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Physics from l’École Polytechnique, l’Université de Montréal, in 1965. He taught at l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, where he started as an associate professor in Engineering Physics (1970-71), becoming Head of the Engineering Physics Division (1971-72) and finally, Head of the Engineering Department (1972-74).
In 1988, Lajeunesse was asked to lead the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), the national association that represents all Canadian universities. During this period, he formed relationships across all sectors of public life, which will prove invaluable to his work at Concordia.
Claude Lajeunesse is a member of many professional bodies and boards, and has been recognized extensively for his work. He is a member of l’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
Lajeunesse was also a member of the Board of Directors and Advisory Committee of the Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l’Aide à la recherche (FCAR) and was General Manager of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers in Ottawa and Director of Targeted Research for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The Canadian Academy of Engineering named him to its Board in 1999, and he served as Chair of the Board and President in 2002-2003. In March of 2005, he was named to the Board of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).
Claude Lajeunesse is an active community volunteer, with commitments ranging from health care to cultural organizations. He is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Toronto East General Hospital (since 2005), member of the Board and member of the Executive Committee of the Ontario Heritage Foundation (since 2000), Chair of the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre Committee (since 2004), member of the Toronto City Summit Alliance (since 2002) and member of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Board of Trade (since 2004).
The Concordia community wishes to thank Dr. Frederick Lowy for his dedication and invaluable contribution to the development of Concordia. We are proud to welcome Claude Lajeunesse and to join him in preparing the next stage of Concordia’s future.
