2020 Statements

As 2020 comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude for the Simon Fraser University community. You have shown tremendous dedication and resolve during an unpredictable and challenging year.

An unsettling event involving a Black SFU alumnus, campus security and the RCMP occurred in the Burnaby campus dining hall recently, and is raising important questions about our processes and protocols.

In mid-November, I had the honour of hosting a panel on mental health in times of adversity. I was joined at the SFU Alumni event by social scientist Dr. Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, Coast Mental Health CEO Darrell Burnham and psychologist Dr. Joti Samra (all brilliant SFU alumni).

This summer, SFU announced the decision to retire the former name of our varsity athletics teams. A report was commissioned, and dozens of interviews with and comments from community members informed the final decision. Though I was not president at the time this decision was taken, I am in strong support of the change.

During the first two months of my presidency, you will probably have heard me speak about equity, diversity and inclusion. These issues are a priority for me, in part, because they are personal.

I’ve been meeting with student groups, faculty, and staff over the past two months, and hearing about the challenges associated with remote learning and work. I can relate. It has not been easy. People are working at their kitchen tables while balancing family needs, students are juggling course loads and considering their futures, and we all feel uncertain.

October 1st marked my first 30 days as SFU president. I want to thank everyone for your warm welcome, kind messages and support. It has been a busy, productive and rewarding month.

A central role of universities and their members is to address pressing societal issues. As critical thinkers who seek to improve our society, members of our community will not only participate in these conversations, but lead and advance them.

At SFU, curiosity and critical inquiry are central to fulfilling our academic purpose and our drive to engage with the world around us. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding requires the freedom to question conventional thinking and inherited truths, including ideas that are held beyond reproach.

Hi everyone. I’m Joy Johnson, and as of today, I am the president of SFU. I want to start this fall term and my new role by simply saying thank you. Over the past five months, I’ve watched with pride as you have responded to student needs with dedication, creativity and flexibility, delivered a world-class education under changing conditions, and carried on with the research and innovation that our world needs more than ever.

Hi everyone, I’m Joy Johnson, the new president of SFU. Welcome to the fall 2020 term. For returning students, I know how challenging the spring and summer were. Pivoting to online classes while balancing personal needs was one of the biggest challenges many of us have faced. I’m so proud of your resilience, and I’m excited to start this fall term with you.