RRU board welcomes Curtis Clarke
At an institution dedicated to transformation and lifelong learning, Curtis Clarke fits right in.
Clarke was recently appointed to Royal Roads University’s Board of Governors by BC Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia, following his distinguished career in public service, education and criminal justice. His career is characterized by a series of purposeful transitions that underscore a deep commitment to learning, leadership, and community impact.
His education journey began with a foundation in theatre, and he later achieved an undergraduate, master’s and PhD in sociology. After receiving his doctorate, he completed multiple executive certificate programs at Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.
His unconventional career path included a time as a counsellor at a remote northern BC camp for young offenders, owner of a crop-dusting business and commercial pilot, police officer and leader in police training and policy, director of a post-secondary criminal justice program, and deputy minister of K-12 Education, Advanced Education and the Solicitor General at the Government of Alberta.
Clarke, who recently retired from his work in the prairie province and moved to BC, says his experience in advanced education in Alberta “was a little bit like coming home” and notes, “post-secondary institutions are critical for the successes of many of our national and regional economic strategies.”
Now settled in Victoria, Clarke finds himself drawn to institutions that reflect the values and responsiveness he came to appreciate during his time as deputy minister of Advanced Education.
“Royal Roads is one of those institutions that I've always been really interested in, in terms of how it thinks about programming, its alignment to the workforce, its ability to be a little bit more responsive in those spaces where other larger institutions can't do that,” he says.
“When this [board] opportunity arose, I jumped at it because I thought, this is the kind of institution that I really believe I'm going to learn a lot from, but I also think that I can bring something to the table as well.”
Specifically, he says, “I think I bring a perspective that is current because of my role coming out of Advanced Education, but also the work that I'm doing around upskilling and reskilling, about where the economic foundation globally and nationally is moving in terms of workforce development.
“And I think this is where Royal Roads creates a space that enables a different kind of learner to meet their goals and objectives because that's going to be critical.”
Clarke is beginning a term of 1.5 years on the board, concluding at the end of December, 2026.
About the RRU Board of Governors
The RRU Board of Governors sets policy and strategy for the university, and advances the institution’s objectives. The volunteer board comprises the university president; a professor elected by RRU professors; a student elected by RRU students; a university employee elected by their work peers; and up to six people appointed by BC’s Lieutenant Governor; as well, up to two people who are not employees of the university are appointed by the board. Each governor votes on board decisions and the chair — currently, Lori Wanamaker — also acts as the university's chancellor.