Claude Lajeunesse, PhD

Biography

In August 2005, Dr. Claude Lajeunesse became President of Concordia University, a dynamic, comprehensive university committed to excellence in teaching and research, to openness and the respect of diversity, and to involvement in the community.

A native of Quebec City, Dr. Lajeunesse obtained his PhD and MSc in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, after receiving a BSc in Engineering Physics from the École polytechnique de Montréal.

Dr. Lajeunesse is Past President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). Immediately prior to joining Concordia, Dr. Lajeunesse spent a decade as President of Ryerson University in Toronto, where he led the institution through significant increases in enrolment, a major development of its academic and research programs, and engineered a renewal of campus facilities.

Dr. Lajeunesse is currently a member of the boards of TD Meloche Monnex, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and the Montreal Board of Trade. A Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, he is also a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and has recently joined the board of the Canadian Liver Foundation.

From his earliest professional days, Dr. Lajeunesse has made a commitment to academic excellence, high professional standards, lifelong learning and involvement in the communities where he has lived and worked.

Under Dr. Lajeunesse’s leadership, Concordia is thriving. It has entered a new era of innovative research work and the development of key areas of academic and research excellence. Concordia continues to expand its facilities and to build strong partnerships with community business, research, artistic and cultural groups. Concordia’s international profile is also growing and the university is striving to be a leading Canadian university.

Updated, February 2007