Joanne Curry steps into new role as Special Advisor to the President on Government Relations

After 30 years in roles across the organization, including eight years as Vice-President, Joanne Curry, Vice-President, External Relations, has announced her intention to step down from her current role. Joanne’s impact in this role and at SFU has been extraordinary. She was instrumental in bringing the SFU Surrey campus to life, advanced countless major initiatives with government and municipal partners, including the First Peoples’ Gathering House and the gondola, and has enriched SFU’s deep connection with community.

I have asked Joanne to remain with the university in the role of Special Advisor to the President on Government Relations to support several projects, including the gondola and School of Medicine, at this critical time. 

Joanne’s last day in her current role will be July 5, 2024. With Joanne’s transition an interim reporting structure for her portfolio has been established:

• Aftab Erfan will be named Executive Director & Senior Advisor, Community Engagement and Dialogue, will report to Dilson Rassier, Provost and VPA, and will continue to provide leadership to the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue as well as oversee an expanded portfolio
  • SFU Public Square, SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, the Office of Community Engagement including the SFU Surrey TD Community Engagement Centre, and SFU Galleries will report to Aftab, and thus work closely with the Provost’s office
  • The Goldcorp Centre for the Arts Production and Event Services will report to SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement
• Ceremonies & Events will report to Nicole Dorssers, Executive Director, Alumni
• Communications & Marketing and Government Relations will report to the President
• VPER administrative team members will continue to perform their current duties and report to the President’s Office

Joanne and I will work together to ensure continuity with key external partners. Please join me in wishing Joanne well in her new role. 

Joy Johnson
Pronouns: she, her, hers
President & Vice-Chancellor
Simon Fraser University