Farewell to Sandra-Lynn Spina

The Office of the President announced the retirement of Sandra-Lynn Spina after a distinguished 33-year career at Concordia.

Her retirement party was held on April on April 30, 2010. The event was hosted by Clarence Epstein, Director of Special Projects and Cultural Affairs, and both President Judith Woodsworth and Michael Di Grappa, Vice-President, Services, spoke about Spina's time at Concordia

Spina joined Concordia in 1977 in the Psychology Department where she worked for more than 10 years. She then held positions in Marketing Communications as Supervisor, Administrative Services and Interim Director until she became the Director of Marketing Communications in 1997.

During her tenure at Marketing Communications, the work of the area won numerous Canadian and U.S. awards. The innovative marketing campaign around the new university tagline of “Real education for the real world” was extremely successful and emulated by many other universities. In 2006 she became Director, Communications and Donor Relations in Advancement and Alumni and in 2007 joined the Office of the President in her present position as Director, Office of the President.

Extremely active in a myriad of committees, special projects and initiatives, including organizing Concordia’s first two-day Open House in 2000, Spina also gave freely of her time to support activities, mentor students and speak at numerous alumni and fundraising activities. She also found time to hold executive positions in both CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) and CCAE (Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education), including CCAE President from 2005 to 2007. She never missed an opportunity to raise the profile of Concordia in these organizations and encourage Concordians to get involved.

Many members of the Concordia community, alumni and friends have fond recollections of Sandra Spina, of her drive and devotion to Concordia. We wish her all the best in her retirement and all the projects that she will certainly undertake.

From left to right: Clarence Epstein, Director for Special Projects and Cultural Affairs, Office of the President; Suzanne Kaye, Assistant, Protocol; Jonathan Levinson, Chief of Staff, Office of the President; Judith Woodsworth, President and Vice Chancellor; Brad Tucker, Director of the Institutional Planning Office; Sandra-Lynn Spina; Sandra Margolian, Assistant to Director of Special Projects; Estelle Bouthillier, Information and Documentation Analyst, Office of the President; Jeanne Bisson, Assistant to the President and Jane Scribner, Administrative Assistant, Office of the President.