John Woodrow will leave Concordia, where he has served as Executive Director of Instructional and Information Technology Services since November 1994.

His career at Concordia spans 30 years, a period of rapid technological change during which Concordia experienced the extensive development of computing, voice and data communication systems, voice mail and voice recognition, instructional technology and media development.

John received his BSc from Sir George Williams University in 1971 and began his career at Concordia in the Computer Centre software group. He served as head of the group, head of operations and software, head of academic and technical services, director of the MIS office, director of Computing Services, and finally head of IITS, which was created under his leadership in 1998 by merging the Audio-Visual Department with Computing Services.

He headed several innovative projects, including the introduction of e-mail, voice mail and the Internet at the university, high-speed networking, major PC lab upgrades, the online library system, the MIS project (payroll system), the wireless laptop project and the IITS information kiosks. He also participated in many university committees, working groups and task forces.
Vice-Rector Services Michael Di Grappa has expressed the gratitude of the whole Concordia community for John’s steadfast commitment, and wishes him success in his new pursuits.

Erica Besso will leave her post as Director of Research Services to become Liaison and Business Development Officer with the Office of Technology Transfer of McGill University.

Erica joined ORS in 1994, bringing to Concordia years of experience with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. She has been instrumental in negotiating contracts for Concordia’s researchers, acquiring patent licenses and managing the office during a period of major cutbacks for staff and researchers.

John Fryer, Manager of Grants and Systems, will leave the university to take up the position of Institutional Coordinator at the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in Ottawa. John has been at Concordia for 13 years, first in the Office of Institutional Research, and, since 1994, the Office of Research Services.

Melissa Bahula, Grants Assistant, has left the university to become the Human Research Ethics Administrator at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Claude Bédard thanks Erica, John and Melissa for the contributions to the university, and wishes them well in their future endeavours.

Joanne Beaudoin will be the Interim Director, Office of Research Services, from February 19 to May 31. Joanne has a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto, and she has been at Concordia since 1990, when she first joined Research Services.

She was at ORS for five years, then left her position as Grants Manager to become Supervisor of the Student Service Centre in the Office of the Registrar. Currently, she is Administrative Director, School of Graduate Studies and Research. Best wishes in your new post, Joanne.