Chair in Addressing Violence Among Children and Youth

Overview

Simon Fraser University

BC Leadership Chair in Addressing Violence Among Children and Youth

Simon Fraser University respectfully acknowledges the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples on whose unceded traditional territories our three campuses reside.

For the sixth consecutive year, SFU has been ranked by the Maclean's University Ranking Guide as Canada's leading comprehensive university and it has held first or second place for over a decade. SFU consistently ranks among Canada's top universities in research impact. In the latest QS World University Rankings, SFU is ranked 2nd among Canadian universities for citations per faculty. With three growing campuses in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey, SFU has deep connections to partner communities throughout the Province of British Columbia and around the world. SFU aims to become Canada's leading engaged university through innovative education, cutting-edge research and community outreach and was recently graded number one for its global impact on sustainable cities and communities—and fifth in the world for its response on climate action—according to the Times Higher Education (THE) 2023 Impact Rankings. Results in the latest THE impact rankings follow top placements in the recent World University Rankings for Innovation, which for the third year ranked SFU as number one in Canada for overall innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and industrial application.

Adolescence is now recognized as a critical period for the emergence of serious behavioral and mental health problems with long-term impacts across the life span. Youth exposed to adversity, maltreatment and violence are at heightened risk for a range of serious mental health problems, including continued victimization and perpetration of aggression and violence toward others. The burden of suffering and loss of human potential associated with these problems is enormous and economically costly. To tackle these challenges, SFU now seeks to appoint a BC Leadership Chair Addressing Violence Among Children and Youth.

This Chair is supported by the Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF) program, a multi-million endowment established by the Government of British Columbia (BC) to assist a total of 20 permanent BC Leadership Chairs at Research Universities in the province. The Chairs are designed to attract world-class faculty, strengthen the province's capacity for innovative research, promote British Columbia as a centre for cutting-edge research, enhance economic development and position the province as a leader in the knowledge-based economy.

SFU is seeking a renowned scientific leader with a proven record of accomplishment in psychological research, community engagement and knowledge mobilization related to the prevention of youth behavioral and mental health problems and the promotion of resilience. Building on SFU's longstanding reputation for research on mental health problems, prevention strategies and strategies to promote resilience, this is an opportunity to play a transformational leadership role working across disciplines and across the University to establish an ambitious research program to advance the next phase of research under the LEEF Chair initiative.