'I never thought of working anywhere else'
This was the last year for Suresh Goyal, professor at the John Molson School of Business (JMSB), to attend the luncheon in celebration of his years of service. Next year, he’ll be invited back as a new retiree. Goyal left Concordia in June, after 35 years teaching supply chain management.
“Until retirement, I never thought of working anywhere else. I really loved teaching at Concordia and enjoyed being active on the faculty council,” he said.
Enza de Cubellis, director of the University Secretariat, first entered the Concordia environment as a student, before moving over to being an employee in 1992. She spoke at the luncheon as a representative of all the honorees.
“Our Concordia community gives us the opportunity to participate out loud in the moral landscape. It facilitates openness of spirit and precious freedom,” she said.
“So profound is my sense of this community that I remember cheering crazy-out-loud when the Concordia women’s team won gold. And I hate hockey!” she joked.
'My best teachers are my students'
Professor Raye Kass is an expert in communities. Her reputation in team building, leadership and small group behaviour is such that, for 20 years, space programs have been turning to her to coach astronauts on how to be effective team members. She is even acting as an advisor to the Mars One space mission.
“Astronauts are under great pressure. They’ve got to know how to deal with each other. It’s not like they can just go home, so the human factor is key,” she says.
For 45 years, her base community has been Concordia, where she works in the Department of Applied Human Sciences. As an expert in organizational change, she has a particular view of the Long Service and Retirement Luncheon.
“It’s quite energizing to see the mélange of those who’ve been here at different points in Concordia’s history. It reflects a community of diversity in ages and stages of life.”
“If you believe the statistic, only two per cent of people love what they do. I’m one of the two per cent. After 45 years, I still have the excitement, I still feel a sense of purpose, I still feel I make a difference, and my best teachers continue to be my students.”
Read more about Concordia’s Long Service Awards.