Erin Morantz appointed SFU’s next Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement

The Simon Fraser University Board of Governors has appointed Erin Morantz as SFU’s next Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement.

Erin Morantz is an SFU alumnus and was previously Director of Advancement in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. She has had a life-long desire to give back to the community, and has spent her entire career raising funds for non-profit organizations. She joins SFU with national and regional fundraising experience in an executive role. She brings skill in leading successful teams, developing positive relationships, experience in major gifts, and expertise in creating processes, systems and programs that are data-driven and based on best practices.

Morantz is currently serving as Vice-President, Leadership Giving at the Canadian Cancer Society, where she leads a nation-wide team of major gift and communications staff. Prior to this she was Vice-President, Revenue Development (regional) at the Canadian Cancer Society, where she led a team of over 50 fundraisers and increased revenues while decreasing expenses.

As Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement, Morantz will be responsible for proactively engaging with University champions, patrons and alumni to build support for SFU’s mission, vision and key priorities. She brings a passion for collaboration, and will be accountable to support the fundraising capacity across SFU. Her first day will be January 18, 2021.

Returning to SFU is a homecoming for Morantz, who said, “What I’ve missed so much about the university is that universities broadly, and SFU in particular, impact so many of the challenges that society faces — everything from climate change to poverty to health care. That’s been the thing I’ve missed, to have that whole breadth of impact is really amazing. There is always something to learn.”

SFU extends sincere thanks and appreciation to Joanne Curry for assuming the role in an interim capacity while the search was underway. She provided steady guidance and leadership as SFU navigated a leadership change as well as the impacts of the pandemic, while continuing to manage her existing responsibilities.

The search for SFU’s Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement was led by a search committee of university stakeholders that I chaired in accordance with GP 29. A thorough search process took place between May and November 2020 and included a robust community consultation process on the position description and candidate profile. The committee came to a consensus on the recommendation of a preferred candidate.