I am an Honorary Professor, School of Psychology and Social Sciences, Te Wānanga o Ngā Kete Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, The University of Waikato.

I left the University of Waikato in June, 2025. At that time I was the Professor in Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology. I was Head of School, School of Social Sciences, University of Waikato, 2018 - 2022.

In December, 2024 I received the Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand ‘Award for Exceptional Service’. Here is the text:

"Professor Bruce Curtis has made a distinguished and sustained contribution to the advancement of sociology in Aotearoa New Zealand. His achievements across his areas of expertise are exceptional both in breadth and depth. His clear and sustained focus on Aotearoa New Zealand is a feature of his sociological research as is the emancipatory theoretical framework that he draws upon. Bruce’s service to sociology has manifest in numerous ways. He was President of SAANZ from 2005-2008 and during his tenure instigated the process of formally recognising the achievement of members and enhancing and extending the sociological community. His time as Head of Sociology of Auckland University has had lasting impacts as he sought ways to acknowledge both students and colleagues. As Head of School for Social Sciences at Waikato University he initiated the criminology major which has an explicit sociological, social justice and anti-colonial focus. As the Senior Editor of Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences he has fostered greater diversity of voices and approaches, in particular to Māori authors and rangahau mātauranga. Overall, Bruce’s commitment to the discipline has been undertaken with the strong belief that the benefit of the work must accrue to the collective." 

I was previously based at the Department of Sociology, The University of Auckland, 1998 - 2018.  

I championed the introduction of Criminology at the University of Auckland (2007) and at the University of Waikato (2024).

I have extensive experience on ethics committees (primarily at the University of Auckland, my 0.5 FTE as Head of School at the University of Waikato precluded this).

I have considerable experience in postgraduate supervision across the social sciences. For example, while at the University of Auckland, Masters theses I supervised twice won the Roger Oppenheim Prize for best MA thesis in Sociology (2012 and 2016). This was not an annual award, rather it was given to exceptional theses. 

I was the Senior Editor of Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online. I oversaw the very significant growth in impact of the journal and more importantly the foregrounding of mātauranga hau.

I am a senior researcher for a charitable trust with an interest in criminal justice.