SFU Surrey executive director Joanne Curry has been appointed the university’s associate vice-president, external relations. The role involves working closely with VP External Philip Steenkamp on a wide range of outside initiatives including community engagement and local government relations.

Curry has been at the helm of the Surrey campus since it opened in 2002, overseeing its development alongside the rebuild of Surrey’s downtown core and the growth of its enrolment from 500 students to more than 6,500.

Curry also manages the secretariat of the SFU Surrey India Advisory Council and has numerous ties with community organizations, including board memberships with the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association and the TELUS Vancouver Community Board.

She has twice been nominated for a YWCA Woman of Distinction award and was singled out for top honours in the professional category at the Surrey Women in Business awards in 2010. The award paid tribute to her passion for “building community partnerships, and utilizing the university’s strengths and resources to better the economic and social lives” of the communities served by SFU.

Curry spent much of the past year as a special advisor to President Andrew Petter on the university’s strategic vision consultations.

Curry formerly held positions as the executive director of the national TeleLearning Network of Centres of Excellence and director of SFU’s University-Industry Liaison Office.

She has also held numerous management positions in the private sector.

Curry earned a BComm with distinction from the University of Manitoba and holds an MBA from SFU. She is currently completing a doctorate in business administration at the University of Bath.

For the present, she will continue her role as Surrey campus executive director.