New president installed at convocation
Concordia's new president and vice-chancellor, Alan Shepard, looked to the university's illustrious past and to its challenging and exciting future in a speech he delivered during his official installation. The ceremony took place in front of the fall 2012 graduating class from Concordia's Faculty of Arts and Science.
Shepard's address recognized a lot of the great things that have happened at Concordia, or are happening now in its labs and classrooms, but it was also a call to action, underlining the vital need for the university to continue adapting to a rapidly changing world.
"Strong universities are needed now more than ever," he said. "Strong universities make a strong Québec, make a strong Canada, make a better world."
Shepard underlined Concordia's commitment to providing its students with a worldly education that will prepare them to succeed in the shrinking global landscape. But there are other equally pressing challenges, he argued.
New technology is rapidly changing the face of university education, making it difficult for large institutions to keep up. Shepard insisted that Concordia must strive to keep pace, no matter how difficult it is.
"It seems clear now that technology will press us to change the environment for teaching and learning at a faster pace than what we have been comfortable with historically," he said. "We will need to be nimble, smart and strategic. We will need to work together to think about how Concordia ... will adapt itself to the rapidly changing dynamics of the 21st century."
Another issue facing the university, Shepard argued, is "a certain scepticism" growing around the value of a traditional university education. To continue to be relevant, Concordia must be open to change, he said. "We must not be afraid to rethink how universities can adapt to the changing needs of society."
Shepard grew up in the United States during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. It was a time of intense divisions, but also great social change. The man who will lead Concordia into the future was inspired by Martin Luther King and the lesser-known leaders of that era, who rose up in rebellion against accepted social norms.
These events also shaped the course of Shepard's own studies. As a graduate student, he was drawn to learn about what he termed "moments of great historic upheaval."
Making reference to his new and adopted home, Shepard named well-known Quebec individuals, institutions and corporations — John Molson, Expo 67, Cirque du Soleil, and Bombardier, among others — that weren’t afraid to challenge the status quo, and in doing so achieved great success.
In closing, he quoted Thomas Jefferson, who once wrote, “I hold that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms are in the physical.”
Shepard drew a line to the important challenges facing him in his new leadership role as Concordia's president, and said he won't be afraid to fight for what he believes in — in this case, a strong and relevant university.
"My point really is that bold thinking is essential — bold, ambitious thinking," he said. "There is still much to do, but together, maintaining our spirit of open debate and civil discourse, we can continue building a first-rate urban university that is in sync with the needs of the twenty-first century."
Watch the video of President Shepard's speech:
Related link:
• The full text of President Shepard’s speech