Sept. 19, 2007 — President Claude Lajeunesse is pleased to announce the appointment of Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, Louise Dandurand as Interim Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs while the search process for a new Provost proceeds.
“Dr. Dandurand has the confidence of our academic community and I know that she will dedicate all her energies to assuring that our academic priorities continue to be met during the search period,” said President Lajeunesse. “I want to thank her for taking up this added responsibility while she continues to lead Concordia’s research development. I know that she will have the support of the entire university community.”
As Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, Louise Dandurand is working diligently to build a strategic framework to better support researchers, create new alliances and significantly raise Concordia’s research profile. She has been touring both campuses to meet researchers and graduate students, discussing their needs and goals. Soon after her arrival, she launched a Seed Funding Program to promote innovative initiatives leading to possible future external funding and to support publications and other creative activities. Dandurand has also undertaken a wide consultation process concerning graduate studies at Concordia.
Louise Dandurand joined Concordia in 2006. She had been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fonds québécois de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC) since 2001. She began her career in the Political Science Department at the University of Ottawa. She was appointed the Director of Policy and Planning at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and subsequently the Secretary General of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). During her term at SSHRC, she successively held the positions of Acting Director General of Programs (SSHRC), Acting Director General of Administration (SSHRC), Acting President (SSHRC) and was also Secretary General of the Canada Council for the Arts.
