Dr. Siu Ming Kwok appointed Academic Director of The School of Public Policy (SPP)

We are pleased to share the news that Dr. Siu Ming Kwok has been appointed as the Academic Director of The School of Public Policy (SPP) effective July 19, 2021, for a two-year term.  

Dr. Kwok is currently serving as the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs) in the Faculty of Social Work. In this role he was responsible for the strategic direction and academic quality of all the social work undergraduate programs, which includes campuses in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge; programs at Red Deer, Medicine Hat, and Grande Prairie; and the online program. Siu Ming previously served as the Associate Dean for the Southern Alberta Region. Before he joined the University of Calgary in 2016, he was a Professor at King’s University College at Western University and was the Academic Director of the Southwestern Regional Hub of Ontario, Youth Research and Evaluation Exchange (YouthREX) which is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and housed in King’s University College at Western University.  

He holds a Diploma of Social Work from City University of Hong Kong, a Bachelor of Social Work from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a Master of Social Work from University of British Columbia, a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work from University of Calgary, and a Master of Public Administration from Western University. 

His commitment to his field and support of his peers is demonstrated by his election as the 2021-2022 President of Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), which is the regulatory body of the social work profession under the Health Professions Act in the province of Alberta. In his career, he has received numerous research and teaching awards, invited to present at national and international conferences as a keynote and panelist member, and has testified at the Canadian Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights on the topic of visible minorities and the criminal justice system. 

Dr. Kwok will work closely with the Acting Director of the SPP to ensure the smooth handover of Academic Director duties. His appointment is a critical part of continuity for the SPP in light of upcoming leadership transitions. As previously announced, The School will welcome an Interim Director in September and Siu Ming will play a key part in the transition between the Interim Director and the next Director of the SPP in 2022.  

We would like to thank the advisory selection committee for their time and dedication to this process. The committee was chaired by the Provost and Vice President (Academic) and included Jennifer Winter (academic staff member from the SPP), Jennifer Zwicker (academic staff member from the SPP), Myles Leslie (academic staff member from the SPP), Ron Kneebone (academic staff member from the SPP), Bryce Tingle (academic staff member external to the SPP), Lindsey Hritzuk (AUPE staff member from the SPP), Naomi Achus (MaPS staff member from the SPP), Andreas Murphy (student in the SPP), Valerie Seaman (community representative), and Marcia Nelson (community representative).

Please join us in congratulating Siu Ming on his new role in the School of Public Policy.