At its last meeting, Concordia's Board of Governors approved the appointment of Effrosyni (Faye) Diamantoudi as provost and vice-president, academic, for a five-year term beginning on May 1, 2026. Diamantoudi has been in the role on an interim basis since September 2025.
A professor of economics, Diamantoudi has held several leadership positions in the past 15 years. She was appointed dean of graduate studies in February 2023, after occupying the role for three years as interim. She was also interim vice-president of research and graduate studies for the latter half of 2024 and, in 2025, took on a special mandate to diversify and increase forms of revenue generation at the university. Previously, Diamantoudi had also served as graduate program director in the Department of Economics and associate dean of recruitment and awards at the School of Graduate Studies.
"We all know that this is a pivotal and challenging moment for Concordia. That is why we need a chief academic officer who is bold and visionary, a skilled administrator, and who has a desire and a demonstrated capacity to lead transformative change," says President and Vice-Chancellor Graham Carr. "Through her substantial record of accomplishments and clear love for the university, Faye is an obvious choice."
Jump in graduate enrolment among outstanding achievements
In the past few months, Diamantoudi has led the university's efforts in reviewing its model of academic operations and its program offerings with a view to enhancing the sustainable delivery of its mission. In particular, she has met with virtually every academic department and with student leaders to share key data and understand the different realities they face. These visits have sparked a host of new ideas about how the university can continue to achieve growth and position itself more competitively to attract top talent and reach new categories of students.
"Faye began laying the foundations to achieve these goals several years ago through a series of initiatives that modernized the work of the School of Graduate Studies at Concordia, dramatically boosted graduate research enrolment and significantly increased funding for students," adds Carr. "Her ability to foster dialogue and mobilize stakeholders shone through in those decisions. Her strategic thinking, grasp of data and finances, and determination to encourage and reward fresh, creative ideas are all fantastic attributes to be Concordia's next provost."
"I care deeply about Concordia and its community, who welcomed me as a faculty member almost 25 years ago," says Diamantoudi. "We are at a challenging crossroads, but I believe Concordia can emerge from this moment stronger, more cohesive and more future-ready. I want to help bridge the gap between aspiration and implementation, between leadership and community, and between the pressures we face and the opportunities they create. I am honoured to be given the opportunity to play a role in shaping Concordia's next chapter, together with its students, faculty and staff."
From international student to leading academic
Diamantoudi joined Concordia in 2003 as an assistant professor in the Department of Economics and became a full professor in 2015. A specialist in game theory and environmental economics, her research has examined the stability of international environmental agreements, among other topics. She is a member of Concordia's Loyola Sustainability Research Centre.
Her leadership extends to roles on the national and international academic scenes. She is president of the executive committee of the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools, a group of 75 universities and colleges in the United States and Canada; treasurer of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies; and a member of the research committee of the U.S.-based Council of Graduate Schools.
Originally from Greece, Diamantoudi came to Canada as an international student, earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa, then a master's degree and a PhD in Economics from McGill University.
