Illustration student becomes “Dean for a Day”

Fourth-year Illustration student Nancy Correia assumed a role of a lifetime – and we’re not talking about starring in an Oscar-nominated film.

The Faculty of Arts and Science recently invited students to submit an essay to be “Dean for a Day” and Correia’s essay earned her the opportunity to assume the role on March 27. In her essay, she talked about her transformative experience at OCAD U and her understanding of leadership, which is hard work and unwavering dedication to foster a great community.

“We wanted to do something different and offer a student an experiential learning opportunity related to a leadership role in a post-secondary educational institution,” explains Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science Dr. Charles Reeve. “We were impressed by Nancy’s exceptional essay and as a result, she was dean for a day.”

Correia’s day kicked off with a meeting with President Ana Serrano where they engaged in a meaningful conversation about balancing community needs while managing significant responsibilities. This set the tone for a day of deep exploration. Next, Correia met with Deanne Fisher, the Vice Provost of Students and International, delving into discussions about student groups and community building. 

The day included a meeting with the team from the Admissions Office, who welcomed the “dean” and provided her with an OCADU t-shirt as a token of appreciation.

After attending a seminar led by renowned curator Helen Molesworth, Correia attending the Faculty’s monthly administrative meeting, where she contributed valuable insights regarding upcoming initiatives, such as orientation, Grad Ex and summer events.

During the day, she did manage to have a lunch break and dinner, ending her day by attending the public talk by Molesworth, where she led the event with the land acknowledgment and introduced Charles Reeve and Molesworth to an audience of over 100 participants.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to step into the shoes of a dean and gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play," says Correia.

The success of the "Dean for a Day" initiative underscores Faculty of Arts & Science's commitment to fostering student engagement and providing experiential learning opportunities.