Sharon-May Nelson

Sharon Nelson has devoted more than three decades to the university as assistant director of the Executive MBA Program at the John Molson School of Business. Known for her ability to bring people together, she has helped generations of EMBA students feel welcomed, supported and at home within the Concordia community.

Deeply committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, Nelson served on the President’s Task Force on Anti-Black Racism from 2020 to 2022, leading the subcommittee on anti-racist education and resources for the campus community. She also contributed to university governance as a member of the John Molson School of Business Council from 2007 to 2009. Her leadership dates back to her student years, when she served as president of the Caribbean Students’ Union in the 1990s.

Beyond the university, Nelson has long been a driving force in Montreal’s community sector through her work with the Jamaica Association of Montreal. A dedicated volunteer and advocate, she has played a central role in initiatives ranging from food banks to educational programs such as Adult Basic Education and Footsteps, earning widespread respect from community members and leaders alike.

In 2025, she became president of the association, following years of service in key roles including second vice-president, board secretary, media and social media representative, and director of programs and services. She is a frequent speaker in the media and at community events, addressing issues affecting Jamaican and Black communities across the city.

In 2024, Nelson was elected commissioner for Ward 5 (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce) at the English Montreal School Board.

Nelson holds undergraduate degrees in biology and civil engineering from Concordia University, as well as a master’s degree in integrated water resource management from McGill University.

Her contributions have been widely recognized. She received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Golden Heart Award from the West Island Black Community Association, and the LIVE Concordia Award for community service in 2024. That same year, she was named a CBC Quebec Black Changemaker. In 2011, she was honoured with the John Molson School of Business Dean’s Staff Award.

She is the 2026 recipient of the Concordia University Alumni Association’s Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award.