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Marcel Danis: Counsel to the Executive Group 

President Michael Di Grappa has named Marcel Danis as Counsel to the Executive Group, where he will lend his considerable experience on a number of important subjects. The Executive Group comprises the President, the Provost and the Vice-Presidents.

Danis will leave the position of Vice-President, External Relations, and Secretary-General in February to make way for his successor, Bram Freedman. He will continue to teach as a full professor in the Department of Political Science.

Marcel Danis has had a valued career at Concordia as a key advisor to the university. In 1996, he became Vice-Rector, Institutional Relations, and was named Secretary-General in 1998 when the two offices were merged.

He joined Loyola College in 1968 as a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and has taught ever since. An alumnus of Loyola College, Université de Montréal, Fordham University and the Université de Paris, he also acts as an advisor to the Quebec Minister of Justice and Public Security.

From 1984 to 1993, he was the Member of Parliament for Verchères. Among his numerous parliamentary posts, he was Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons (1984 to 1990), Deputy House Leader, Minister of State for Youth (1990-1991), Minister of State for Fitness and Amateur Sport (1990-1991), and Minister of Labour (1991-1993). He is a member of the Queen’s Privy Council.

President Di Grappa is pleased to be able to count on Marcel Danis’s expertise, in addition to having him continue as one of Concordia’s most popular professors.

Roger Coté named Acting VP Services

Roger Côté will hold the position of Acting Vice-President, Services, as long as President Michael Di Grappa serves as President. The announcement was made at the Board of Governors meeting on Jan. 17.

“It is necessary to ensure that the vital services area has full-time, effective interim leadership,” Di Grappa explained. He was vice-president of the large sector until he took on presidential duties in November.

Côté joined Concordia in 1981, and has held many responsibilities. He became Executive Director, Enrolment and Student Services, in June 2004, and was named an associate vice-president in 2006.

Given his new responsibilities, Registrar Linda Healey will oversee the Enrolment Services sector, and Katie Sheahan, the Director of Recreation and Athletics, will take on added responsibilities in Student Services.

Until the hiring of a Vice-President, Human Resources, Anna Michetti will oversee the day-to day operations of human resources and Maurice René de Cotret the labour relations area. They will report to Acting VP Services Roger Côté, who will also rely on the advice of Patrick Kelley, Executive Director, Strategic Plans.