Susan Mide Kiss is the Vice-President, Community Engagement at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). Prior to joining UFV in September 2022, Susan served as the Senior Director, Community Engagement at the University of Calgary (UCalgary). Earlier in her career at UCalgary, Susan served a leadership role with a health research initiative at the Cumming School of Medicine.
Susan’s professional background spans more than two decades and includes a number of health charities and public sector organizations both in British Columbia and Alberta. She is deeply committed to working in a good way and exploring wise and ethical engagement practices with Indigenous and other equity-deserving communities. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Social Sciences from Royal Roads University, Mide Kiss holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from RRU and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science from the University of Victoria.
Skilled in social action, strategic planning, philanthropy, and policy development, Susan’s work has been recognized nationally and internationally by organizations including the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE). Susan is a founding member of Community Campus Engage Canada (CCE Canada) and the Canadian Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. Her extensive volunteer experience includes senior roles with groups ranging from youth organizations to the United Way.
After living and raising her two children in Calgary for 20 years, Susan is grateful to return home to the Fraser Valley, where she grew up. Susan’s children still live in Calgary – where they are actively engaged in their post secondary journeys.
Susan is pleased to support the Abbotsford Community Foundation and join the Board of Directors.