Meet our team

Lisa White, executive director

Lisa White is the inaugural executive director of equity at Concordia University. Lisa began her advocacy and policy work in academic spaces when she joined the Concordia Student Union Advocacy Centre in 2006. A Concordia alum, she has held key administrative roles such as Director of the Office of Rights and Responsibilities. Leading the newly established Equity Office, Lisa now oversees the strategic implementation of recommendations centered on advancing equity, diversity and inclusion at Concordia. Lisa’s work is informed by a decade of experience in addressing issues of discrimination and equity in higher education spaces as well as social justice and community-based approaches.

Lisa’s role of executive director reports to Nadia Hardy, deputy provost and vice-provost of faculty development and inclusion, with a dotted reporting line to Carolina Willsher, associate vice-president of Human Resources.

Mark Andrew Galang Villacorta, senior equity advisor

Mark Andrew Galang Villacorta has been working in higher education administration with a focus on inclusive excellence, multicultural programming, and social justice education for over 15 years in the U.S. and Montreal. In his first role at Concordia as Senior Lead, Equity and Diversity, he focused on fostering and advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility (EDIA) within the faculties and the library. His major collaborative projects included the development and implementation of workshops on equitable recruitment, applicant employment equity surveys, and providing support for faculty recruitment via the role of Equity Advocate. In addition, he worked in partnership to launch the University’s inaugural Equity Census, and to develop and update its CRC EDI Action Plan. As the Senior Equity Advisor in the Equity Office, Mark seeks to continue to develop the work he began in his previous role, while expanding opportunities for deeper engagement, learning and dialogue around issues of anti-oppression and social justice. He hopes to cultivate and participate in multiple, integrated, communities of practice. This work will support the sustainability and vitality of EDIA at Concordia, as well as enable a sense of empowerment and institutional belonging for all members of our community.

Racha Cheikh-Ibrahim, equity advisor

Racha Cheikh-Ibrahim is a seasoned higher education professional with over fifteen years of combined research, training, facilitation, mentorship, partnership, and professional development experience. As an equity advisor at Concordia University, Racha works to embed equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in the student experience. She also supports the advancement of equity at Concordia through active collaboration, consultation, training and educational programming, and other initiatives.

Racha is a Concordia Alum with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s degree in Chemistry. She is passionate about building an inclusive environment and supportive spaces for Concordia’s diverse student community and ensuring access to equitable opportunities for everyone.

Chistopher Plenzich, project lead

Christopher is the Project Lead in the Equity Office, bringing over seven years of project management experience, including four years at Concordia University. His primary responsibilities include ensuring that the day-to-day projects of the Equity Office remain on track and facilitating the planning, organizing, and execution of the Standing Together against Racism and Identity-based Violence (STRIVE) Task Force activities.

Christopher earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and a Master's degree in Biology from Concordia University. He aims to leverage his experience as a student and staff member to help foster inclusive environments for Concordia's diverse student body and create equitable opportunities for all.

Bofta Weldetnsae, equity advisor 

Bofta Weldetnsae is the equity advisor at Concordia University. In this role, Bofta is responsible for developing and delivering equity educational programming and consultation services with a focus on student experiences to Concordia students, faculty and staff. Since 2012, she has worked in various academic and non-profit organizations, bringing with her a commitment to equity and the desire to help enact meaningful change in post-secondary institutions. Bofta’s work is informed by her love of community, education, and social justice. She completed a joint honours undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa in Women’s Studies and Sociology and hopes to never stop learning and expanding her perspectives.