June 2026

Dear colleagues,

I want to thank everyone who attended Convocation on June 15. The spirit at Place des Arts was joyful, and it was a pleasure to see so many smiling faces. It is always a treat for me to personally congratulate each one of our graduates with a handshake and well wishes for the future. You can see photos from both ceremonies here, during which we awarded honorary doctorates to three remarkable leaders.

Diane Dunlop-Hébert and Norman Hébert were honoured for their outstanding combined impact in business, sport, philanthropy and civic life. Elin Waty was recognized for her transformative leadership in global financial services, where she has championed inclusive innovation, expanded access to insurance and advanced social impact through her entrepreneurial and philanthropic work.

Celebrating our success  

We celebrated many graduations and events this month. The 28th Induction Ceremony of new members to the Concordia Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma was held on June 16. I want to congratulate our newly inducted members on their remarkable academic achievements and give a special thank you to Jacques Duchesneau for his inspiring keynote speech. He reminded inductees that leadership is not a privilege, but a responsibility grounded in character, trust, and service to others. He emphasized that true leadership is earned through integrity in everyday actions, measured by how we help others grow and succeed, and sustained by the courage to act with purpose and leave a positive legacy, ultimately, elevating others rather than oneself. Photos of the event are available here.

The Van Berkom Investment Management Program held its graduation on June 1. You can see photos here. Sebastian van Berkom encouraged graduates to translate their academic excellence into impactful careers, emphasizing the importance of discipline, real-world learning and responsible decision-making, while reminding them that success is best measured by the value they create for others and the broader community. Special thanks to Mehmet Ozsoy, associate professor and director of the program, for his diligent and rigorous leadership in guiding students as they manage a portfolio of North American small-cap equities with the objective of achieving above-average returns.

Internal appointments

Congratulations to our faculty members who have recently been promoted to full professor and associate professor with tenure.

Full professors: Tieshan Li (marketing), Caroline Roux (marketing), Matthäus Tekathen (accountancy), Li Yao (accountancy) and Jisun Yu (management).

Associate professors with tenure: Mahdi Mirhoseini and Arman Sadreddin, both from SCBTM.

These important milestones recognize their sustained achievements in research, teaching and service, and reflect their deep commitment to our academic community. Bravo!

Academic appointments and renewals

I want to congratulate Sergey Isaenko, associate professor in finance, on being appointed to the RBC Professorship in Financial Derivatives. His work contributes to a deeper understanding of financial markets by developing new approaches to derivative pricing and market behaviour using advanced modeling and machine learning.

Congratulations to Caroline Roux, professor in marketing, on being appointed to the Royal Bank Distinguished Professorship in Marketing. Her research advances marketing theory through the "Just Transition Journey" framework, connecting the discipline to climate and energy transition challenges and their broader societal implications.

Denis Beauchesne, ETA in management, is the new director of the MBA International Case Competition, replacing Bill Meder who has served in this capacity for 16 years! Denis will continue to lead the Concordia Small Business Consulting Bureau as well.

Succeeding Erkan Yönder, Ahmed Eissa, ETA in finance, will lead the Manulife Sustainable Investment Practicum. This important partnership with Manulife offers a select group of our students a unique, hands-on learning experience in managing a real global equity portfolio with a strong sustainability focus. Through this program, students develop practical investment skills while learning how environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations shape today’s financial decisions.

Cédric Lesage, professor of accountancy and associate dean, research and external relations, will continue as Lawrence S. Bloomberg Chair in Accountancy. Juliane Proelss, associate professor of finance, has been renewed as the Jacques Ménard-BMO Professorship in Capital Markets. Raymond Paquin has been extended as the director of the John Molson Case Publications Initiative.

I extend my sincere gratitude to those who have carried their previous responsibilities with distinction, and I wish continued success to those who now take on these important roles.  

Accolades and honours

Congratulations to John Molson faculty member Raul Valverde (ETA in SCBTM), recipient of the Academic Leadership Award at the Concordia University Celebration of Faculty Excellence.

Congratulations as well to our graduate student and alumna recognized at the President’s Media Outreach Awards, which celebrate outstanding communicators who highlight Concordia’s successes in the broader media. Bravo to Iman Goodarzi, doctoral candidate in marketing, on winning Opinion Leader of the Year. Alumna Ghalia Shamayleh, PhD 24, won Research Communicator of the Year in the international category.

Rankings

For the third consecutive year, our School has been recognized as a Level 4 "Transforming School" in the Positive Impact Rating 2026, placing us among the top tier of institutions globally. Level 4 is one of five possible levels and is defined as "showing a positive impact on culture, embedded in governance and systems, with visible results across many impact dimensions." This recognition is especially meaningful as it is based entirely on student feedback. This year’s rating included responses from over 20,000 students across 32 countries, highlighting the global reach and credibility of the assessment.  

Be a catalyst for positive societal impact

Pedal for Kids fundraiser

On June 11, the JMSB Team (Samuel Dubé, Eva Ferrara, Jordan Lebel, Selina-Josie Leone, Linthuja Nadarajah, Sharon Nelson, Seth Spain, George Spanos, Atosa Tangestanifar) raised $20,500 for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation as part of its annual Pedal for Kids fundraiser. A special thank you to Team Captain Eve Ferrara, whose leadership and dedication were instrumental in driving this successful initiative. Overall, the Foundation raised more than $530,000. I’m proud of our community’s engagement. Thank you!

Closing remarks

Much has been happening across our School and University in recent months. We are navigating a challenging context, marked by budget pressures at Concordia and the departure of valued colleagues who have contributed greatly to our community. These moments are not easy. And yet, what continues to stand out is the resilience, creativity and mutual support that define our School.

I want to thank each of you for your dedication, your adaptability, and your care for one another. It is because of this collective spirit that we continue to move forward with purpose and confidence.

As we head into the summer months, I hope you will find time to rest and recharge. I look forward to welcoming you back in the fall.

#WeAreJMSB

Au plaisir et bon été!

Anne-Marie Croteau, PhD, CDir
Dean