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Michael Di Grappa Acting President 

Vice-President, Services, Michael Di Grappa has been appointed by the Board of Governors to fill the post of university president until an interim president is named.

Board Chair Peter Kruyt made the announcement Oct. 18.

“Having been an active member of the Concordia community for close to three decades, Michael has the depth of understanding, experience and track record to provide the leadership we need at this time,” Kruyt said. “We thank him for agreeing to take on this assignment, and for his commitment to the university.”

For his part, Di Grappa said, “I am honoured to be given the opportunity. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Dandurand as Interim Provost and Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, and our colleagues, the other members of the senior administrative team, to ensure that the university keeps moving forward.

“The successful conclusion of outstanding labour negotiations remains a personal priority.”

The search for an interim president will be conducted by a working group that includes the executive committee of the Board, plus Interim Provost Dandurand, Di Grappa and part-time faculty representative Jean Freed. An additional faculty member has been added to the executive committee in the person of Lawrence Kryzanowski.

The members of the Advisory Search Committee for a President and Vice-Chancellor are: Peter Kruyt (chair), Charles Cavell, Brian Edwards, Rama Bhat, Haidee Wasson, Charles Draimin, Christine Jourdan, Peter Shizgal, Maria Peluso, Sanjay Sharma, Bijan Derisi, Angelica Novoa, Joanne Beaudoin and Nancy Marrelli.

A 1984 graduate of the School of Community and Public Affairs, Di Grappa took a Master's of Public Policy and Administration degree at Columbia University in New York.

He began his Concordia career in 1986 as Assistant in the Office of the Rector. He has been Vice-President, Services, since March 2000, leading the university's ambitious $400 million construction project and bringing 10 strategic units into an effective business operation.

He was president of the Concordia University Alumni Association from 1996 to 1998 .