Kwantlen Polytechnic University has announced the appointment of Dr. Diane Purvey as Kwantlen's dean, faculty of arts.
Purvey joins Kwantlen from Thompson Rivers University (TRU) where her most recent appointment was as chair of the school of education, in the faculty of human, social, and educational development - the unit responsible for the university’s bachelor and master of education programs, as well as early childhood education and physical education.
“Kwantlen is very excited to welcome such an accomplished academic and inspiring organizational leader to our university,” said John McKendry, president and vice-chancellor of Kwantlen Polytechnic University. “Dr. Purvey has served at TRU as an associate professor of education, teaching in education, history and TRU-open learning, and we look forward to the abundance of knowledge and leadership she will bring to Kwantlen.”
Holding a Ph.D. in social and educational studies from the University of British Columbia, Dr. Purvey has a long record of volunteer community work and engagement in community-based research. She is the co-author and co-editor of three books on aspects of British Columbia’s social history, the most recent being Vancouver Noir, 1930-1960. Purvey has supervised and mentored students in the TRU master of education program, a course of studies that she helped build, launch, and administer as coordinator. She has also served in advisory roles associated with graduate studies, research, and institutional realignment, and has been involved in planning initiatives across facilities in her position as chair of the school of education.
As dean, faculty of arts, Dr. Purvey will encourage a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach, support academic excellence, and promote originality in research, scholarship and teaching.