SFU welcomes inaugural Black Student Centre Associate Director Daniel Sheriff

SFU is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Sheriff, EdD as the inaugural Associate Director of the university’s Black Student Centre (BSC).

Building on decades of experience across the public, private and non-profit sectors, Daniel will oversee the BSC’s programming, service delivery and operations. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work as well as a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership.

“My background has equipped me with the ability to understand the full scope of service delivery and support for students, because I've had the experience of doing so in many different areas from social services to policy, leadership and management,” he said.

The BSC will provide a range of culturally appropriate services and programs for Black students including counselling services and comprehensive mental health education, anti-racist career services, advising and writing support to enhance academic and career success. It will also promote Black racial and cultural identity through events such as welcome events for new students, Black History Month commemorations, graduation celebrations and programming informed by community interests and priorities.

The BSC is the result of student-led advocacy and activism. The permanent centre will carry out and extend the work currently being done by Students of Caribbean and African Descent (SOCA), upholding SFU’s commitments to redress anti-Black Racism and foster Black inclusion as outlined in the Scarborough Charter.

As work continues to establish a permanent space for the Centre later this year, Daniel envisions a positive hub for Black students to connect and access resources. In his initial months at SFU, he plans to prioritize building relationships with students and stakeholders while deepening his understanding of the broader university community. 

“I don’t believe you can be successful in providing services to a community if you don’t understand that community. So understanding the Black student population here at SFU, getting to know one another, is a key priority for me in order to address community needs,” said Daniel.

Sheriff will work closely with Jennifer Kandjii, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Student Services. To her, the hiring of an Associate Director for the BSC represents an important milestone in ensuring that Black students receive the support they need.  

“It is extremely fulfilling and rewarding that we have reached this stage. Daniel has the significant experience needed to lead teams, engage with the community and contribute greatly to a sense of belonging for Black students at SFU,” Jennifer said.

Although establishing a permanent space for the Black Student Centre is a complex and ongoing process, this new role marks a significant step forward in realizing the vision advocated for by many Black students, staff, faculty and community members at SFU.  

The BSC will be located in the Maggie Benston Centre (MBC), at SFU's Burnaby Campus on Burnaby Mountain. Once operational, the BSC will provide virtual and in-person services from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have questions about the forthcoming BSC, please email bscadmin@sfu.ca.