Hear Vice-President, Advancement, Paul Chesser, BA 94, GrDip 97, and Vice-President, Sustainability & Services, Michael Di Grappa, BA 84, in discussion with CUAA Director, Lesley Antoun, BEng 95.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your alumni association and participate in a lively discussion between Concordia’s senior leaders.
Audience participation is encouraged! Send questions in advance to alumni@concordia.ca.
Paul Chesser, BA 94, GrDip 97
With 20 years of fundraising experience in the higher education sector, Chesser has led planned and annual giving programs as well as major philanthropic campaigns. He has also spearheaded strategies to engage staff, faculty, volunteers, donors and alumni.
As vice-president, advancement, he leads Concordia’s fundraising and alumni stewardship activities as well as the university’s most ambitious appeal to date, the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen. Now. This major effort supports the nine strategic directions that cement Concordia’s position as Canada’s next-generation university.
Chesser is a certified fundraising executive and has been an active volunteer within the philanthropic community.
He was named Concordia Male Athlete of the Year in 1994 and inducted into the Concordia Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
Michael Di Grappa began his mandate as Vice-President, Services and Sustainability of Concordia University on October 1, 2020.
Michael returned to Concordia following a 24- year career at the University where he served in multiple capacities including Executive Director, Facilities Management (from 1997 to 2000), Vice-President, Services (from 2000 to 2010) and Interim President (from November 2007 to July 2008).
He was also President of the Concordia University Alumni Association from 1996 to 1998.
Lesley Antoun is a seasoned professional with an engineering degree, a business degree and more than 25 years of strategy, governance and program management experience with leadership teams and boards.
Three years ago, she established an independent consulting and advisory practice with clients as varied as multinationals, private enterprises, a Crown corporation, First Nations organizations, and a university.
Central to Lesley’s work are strong ethics and high personal integrity. She helps organizations improve their overall performance by co-creating strategic plans, governance, communication, and performance management tools, always leveraging her vast experience as well as best practices.