Advancing a leading research university: Meet SFU's AVP Research Valorie Crooks

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is pleased to announce that Valorie Crooks has been named associate vice-president, research (AVPR), effective July 1st. Professor Crooks was AVPR pro tem for the past year, and brings a passion for people and knowledge mobilization to her new role.

As AVPR, Valorie supports the priorities and objectives of the vice-president, research and innovation (VPRI), including the implementation of SFU’s Strategic Research Plan (SRP) and research-focused priorities outlined in What’s Next: The SFU Strategy. The AVPR provides leadership for research activities across the university, seeks and responds to opportunities, and exercises strategic oversight of central aspects of research operations, research institutes and research policies. The position plays a significant role ensuring SFU’s research supports continue to meet the needs of its researchers, and advancing SFU as a leading research university.

Valorie is a geography professor and Canada Research Chair in Health Service Geographies, and an engaged practitioner of knowledge mobilization at SFU. She joined SFU’s Department of Geography in 2006, previously held a Scholar Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC (formerly Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research), and was Fraser Health Authority’s inaugural Faculty Fellow. Her health geography background has nurtured her ongoing interest in understanding the lived experiences of those accessing health and social care services.

We spoke to Valorie about her goals and aspirations for advancing research excellence at SFU.

Congratulations on your new role as AVP, research. What excites you about furthering the research enterprise at SFU?

SFU scholars are an exceedingly talented and engaged group, and I am excited to advance and promote all areas of research. From community-centred climate innovation to the new SFU School of Medicine, to partnerships with industry, to fundamental research that expands our understanding of the world, researchers here are truly inspiring. As a leading research university, SFU is fortunate to be involved in many research collaborations that really impact our communities in positive ways.

What are some areas of research strength or emerging research at SFU that you hope to see advanced?

As AVPR, I am here to support all SFU researchers in the pursuit and generation of new knowledge and refinements to existing ways of thinking. I share scholars’ sense of urgency when it comes to global challenges like climate change, sustainability, health, and emerging technology. I am also passionate about meaningfully integrating principles of diversity, equity and inclusion within the endeavours undertaken by SFU researchers, as well as supporting intellectual inquiry and exploring ideas with academic rigour. It is also very important that those across SFU’s research landscape are working in collaboration with the broader community and doing work that matters to communities, both local and beyond. SFU researchers can effect positive change and I am keen to mobilize SFU research discoveries to ensure this collective work is transferred across diverse sectors.

As AVP research, one of your priorities is ensuring SFU’s postdoctoral fellows and student researchers have the supports they need to thrive. Tell us about the ways you hope to support the next generation of researchers.

Supporting postdoctoral fellows is a priority project within our SRP implementation plan and part of our institutional priority to transform the SFU experience for all who work, learn and teach at SFU. To that end, we have recently transferred the responsibility for postdoctoral fellows to the Office of the VPRI, and formed a Postdoctoral Working Group, which I chair. The committee is working to identify and address opportunities and challenges in the postdoctoral portfolio. This includes harmonizing benefit opportunities for internally funded and externally funded postdoctoral fellows, which we have done. An upcoming opportunity I am particularly excited about is our soon-to-be launched supplementary travel funding competition for postdoctoral fellows.

The Office of the VPRI is also focussed on supporting graduate and undergraduate researchers as a priority of the SRP. Over my term I will continue to work towards improving services and resources for our student researchers, increasing equity across graduate programs and strengthening SFU’s reputation as a university that enables researchers to focus on their studies.

What are some of your other priorities and goals over the short and long term?

Over the short term, as part of VPRI’s commitment outlined in the Equity Compass, I will be exploring opportunities to integrate equity, diversity and inclusion into the processes that are part of my role including on hiring and other committees, and in the award selection processes. I will also be working with SFU’s Institutional Strategic Award Office to support streamlining and strengthening the federal funding submissions processes. One of my focusses longer term is supporting research development for the SFU School of Medicine, which will leverage and build on SFU’s research strengths and our strong partnerships across the region.

I am always interested in hearing from faculty and researchers about their projects and ideas, and I encourage the SFU research community to reach out, say hi to me if you see me at an event, and follow my updates on “X” at @ValorieCrooks.

Learn more about research and innovation at SFU: Valorie Crooks | SFU Research