Once again, UBC has gone south of the border to fill one of its most important administrative roles.
UBC has appointed Dr. Ainsley Carry as its new VP Students, seven months after Dr. Louise Cowin unexpectedly resigned in May.
Carry has served as the VP Student Affairs at the University of Southern California (USC) since 2013, where he advocated for supporting student advocacy and improving “the student experience.” He was the school’s top liaison for Greek life, student media and the Sexual Assault Resource Center, among others.
He faced some controversy earlier this year over a meeting he had with Dr. George Tyndall, a USC gynecologist accused of sexually harassing many of his student patients.
Tyndall told the LA Times that Carry offered him a more lenient severance package on the condition that he resign. Carry has firmly denied this allegation, and Tyndall was formally fired later that year.
Carry has had a lengthy career in student relations and support, having worked as an administrator at Temple University in Philadelphia, the University of Florida and the University of Arkansas. This is his first time holding a position at a Canadian university.
He holds a doctorate in education and a masters degree in counsellor education from the University of Florida.
“Dr. Carry brings deep expertise in student support and advocacy and creating educational experiences outside the classroom,” President Santa Ono wrote in a broadcast email. “I am confident that he will be a strong addition to our leadership team at UBC.”
At UBC, Carry will oversee an expansive portfolio that covers the ongoing sexual misconduct policy implementation, which has previously drawn criticisms from students, and the expansion of on-campus student housing as the university explores the creation of a government-business enterprise.
His responsibilities will also include overseeing athletics and recreation and student services, while engaging student groups in consultations.
“I am incredibly grateful to President Ono and the UBC selection committee for selecting me for this important position,” said Carry in a press release. “I look forward to working with the talented staff members of the Vice-President, Students portfolio, UBC students, and academic leaders of the university.”
Carry’s term will start in April 2019. UBC Student Housing & Hospitality Services Managing Director Andrew Parr has been serving as interim VP students since September 10 and will continue until Carry's term begins.
In a message to The Ubyssey, AMS President Marium Hamid said the society is “thrilled to welcome” Carry to campus.
“Dr. Carry's exceptional experience and dedication to students impressed us throughout the interview process ... The AMS looks forward to fostering a great relationship with him and working on existing and new projects together,” Hamid wrote.