Article via KPU Alumni Magazine Issue 6
A new academic year kicks off this week and we are all excited to see the halls, studios and labs filled with new and returning students. And no-one could be more thrilled for the year ahead, than our Dean. We are proud to share an article published by the KPU Alumni team which profiles Dean Goundrey. We hope you gain a little insight into the vision and integrity of our leadership.
Dean of the Wilson School of Design, Andhra Goundrey has been a member of the KPU community for over 25 years. She grew up in Richmond and attended KPU from 1994 to 1996 before graduating from the fashion and technology degree program.
After a career working with local apparel companies and contributing to KPU’s growth as both a faculty member and an administrator, Goundrey now leads the only seven-program interdisciplinary design school in Western Canada.
“I’m incredibly proud to have been a member of the KPU community for all this time and to work amongst really caring, accomplished and passionate people. I care about the university so much that my daughter is a student here – that’s a big testament to how much I believe in KPU.”
Goundrey says her own experience as a KPU student provided her with the foundation that helped launch her career and instilled in her a lifelong commitment to personal and intellectual growth.
“It provided me with the practical and technical skills to be prepared to grow in all the roles that I’ve had in industry, and at the same time it’s provided me with the framework and confidence to continue my education,” she says. “I think learning is a continual journey, it never ends. So, it gives me the confidence to say, it’s OK that I don’t know everything, and I can keep learning.”
That willingness to continue learning led her to complete a master of arts in leadership from Trinity Western University after finishing her studies at KPU and pursue a career in technical design, pattern making and production for companies such as Chloe Angus, Aritzia and Peekaboo Beans. Throughout that time, Goundrey remained deeply connected to KPU. She returned in 2001 as a faculty member and was the coordinator for the fashion and technology program for four years. Then, she was appointed to the position of associate dean in 2017 before being appointed dean of the design school in 2020.
Our connection to industry and the community is what is really distinctive about the Wilson School of Design.
Andhra Goundrey
Collaboration and building connections have been themes throughout her career, and her approach has had a significant impact on KPU’s growth. The reputation of KPU’s design programs helped attract funding for the purpose-built Wilson School of Design building that now houses a variety of design programs ranging from bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, certificates and post-baccalaureate. They span fashion and technology, product design, interior design, graphic design for marketing foundations in design, fashion marketing and technical apparel design.
The $36-million facility, named after lululemon founder Chip Wilson and his wife Summer Wilson — who contributed $8 million — opened in 2018 on KPU’s Richmond campus.
Leading the state-of-the-art design school is the ultimate opportunity to elevate the school’s connections to the design industry for Goundrey. With its extensive practicum placements, hands-on experiential learning and advanced technology, the Wilson School of Design is already recognized as one of the top design schools in the world. Goundrey is excited to see students back on campus and for new industry partnerships that are in the pipeline.
The school’s connection to a larger university is also a key differentiator that she hopes to leverage by fostering more interdisciplinary collaboration.
“We have faculty that also work in the Melville School of Business and in the physics department in the Faculty of Science and Horticulture,” she explains. “There are other research collaborations that we’re doing as well. I think there’s a great opportunity for students to take in that whole university experience, which really makes it a unique experience.”
Students will have more opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary, experiential learning thanks to a $1-million research grant the Wilson School of Design recently received from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The grant will help students meet the innovation needs of industry partners through applied research focused on themes like sustainability, addressing climate change and inclusivity.
Ultimately, Goundrey says it is the work KPU students are doing in the design industry that sets the school apart and inspires her most about her job.
I get excited hearing stories about our students and what they’re doing
Andhra Goundrey
“I’m on LinkedIn constantly because I love to follow where our students have gone and what they’re doing. We have alumni out there performing so well – I think it really is a testament to what the school and the programs offer.”
Goundrey says what impresses her about Wilson School of Design students is their values-driven approach. They want to have a meaningful impact in the world,” she says. “That impresses me so much about the students and why they’re here. When we think about the education we provide, it needs to help them meet those goals and to align with their values as well.”
Taking a holistic approach resonates with Goundrey; it’s been the foundation of her own career journey, she explains.
“I think one of my greatest achievements is continuing to balance my career and my education as a working parent,” she says. “I’m really hopeful that I’m setting an example for my daughter about how you can integrate family, education, career as well as your values. At the same time, I hope that sets an example for the students that we work with here too.”
