Concordia Journal Home > Archives > September 17, 2009 issue >

Looking back and looking ahead 

Frank Chalk, Angela Wilson-Wright and Mary Vipond reflect on their time at Concordia.

Frank Chalk
Professor, History
Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
45 years of service

“When I first came to Sir George Williams University, we had a staff lunch area in the annex north on Drummond Street. There was a fantastic cook, bartender and man of all purposes named Bob. He would treat faculty members as if he were their own personal assistant or butler. We all used to sit around in this one common room over lunch. It became this vast floating seminar of mostly young faculty members who had just achieved their PhDs. We had a great deal of fun. Every year, there was a lobster party and a clam roast. There were only five people in History at that time. It’s hard to imagine that today. But none of us regrets the evolution to this much larger and better funded institution that we work at today.”

Angela Wilson-Wright
Executive Assistant to the Dean
School of Extended Learning
30 years of service

“I joined Concordia in 1979 and yes, I was a teenager then. I think the most remarkable thing is that it has been 30 years. We spent a lot of time talking about that today at the reception, but it doesn’t feel that long. It feels more like 15. I never thought I would be on this end of the spectrum. I always thought I would be the newbie and I’m not anymore. The lunch today was lovely, and I especially liked that it included the retirees.”

Mary Vipond
Professor, History
Distinguished Professor Emerita

“It’s now been just over a year since I retired and I’m enjoying it very much. I joke with people that I’m retired from teaching and from the meetings but I’m still doing research and I’m working on a book. So I do that at my own pace. I’m having lots of fun. I recommend retirement!

“I miss being with my students mostly. I still have a couple of graduate students working with me, but they will soon finish. I can continue to see my colleagues, of course. But you miss the daily involvement, passing on the news and keeping in touch with people’s lives. Soon enough, you move on to other aspects of your life.”