Recognizing the dedication and achievements of faculty members

It was an evening of celebration on May 16 as members of the OCAD University community gathered for the annual Celebration of Faculty event.

The event was an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and achievements of faculty members, and also to recognize the long-service milestones of faculty members and pay tribute to faculty members who are retiring.

In welcoming everyone to the Open Space Gallery at 49 McCaul St., President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano thanked faculty members for their commitment in offering students the best learning experiences possible while maintaining their own artistic practices.

“I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the faculty members who are being recognized for their long service and warm thanks to those who are retiring,” said President Serrano. “We are grateful for the guidance and support you have provided to your students and to OCAD U, and we will continue to carry on the legacies that you leave behind.”

Vice-President, Academic and Provost Dr. Caroline Langill thanked faculty members for the resilience they have shown in navigating through the challenges of this past year.

“I especially want to thank you all for your flexibility, patience and dedication to our students,” said Dr. Langill. “My many thanks again to all of you and your hard work, culminating in the success of another academic year.”

HONOURING FACULTY MEMBERS ON REACHING YEARS OF SERVICE MILESTONES 

The following professors were honoured for their long-serving dedication to OCAD U and continued commitment to art and design education:  

15 YEARS OF SERVICE

Dr. Keith Bresnahan, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts and Science

Dr. Keith Bresnahan is an Associate Professor of design history and theory, specializing in the histories of architecture, urbanism, visual communication and typography. His research explores the politics of architectural destruction and reconstruction, symbols and visual signs in communication and histories of emotion in design and urbanism. He is currently completing a book manuscript on emotion and the reconstruction of Paris after the 1871 Commune. 

Jules Goss, Associate Professor, Faculty of Design

Jules Goss is an Associate Professor who also currently serves as the Chair of Senate. His work focuses on the integration of design thinking, process and practice in health care. In 2011, he became the first designer-in-residence situated within a Canadian hospital. His current professional work facilitates design strategy and user-focused development in a wide variety of sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to manufacturing.

20 YEARS OF SERVICE 

Lewis Nicholson, Associate Professor, Faculty of Design

Lewis Nicholson is an Associate Professor and independent graphic designer who was also honoured as a retiree at this year’s event. He has collaborated on site-specific installations, video and sound works, and with Workparty - a collective of artists and designers whose exhibitions include commissions for Nuit Blanche in 2012 and 2013. He practices photography, sculpture, drawing and sound as a solo artist. He also makes music under the name “Work. Play.”

Simone Jones, Professor, Faculty of Art

Simone Jones is a Professor and artist whose works are shaped by the intersection of the lens-based practices of film, video, photography and projection, with sculpture, programming, mechanics and electronics. Her works reflect upon the complex relationship between lived experience and represented experience. Since 2003, Jones has developed a series of robotically controlled projection machines that synchronize camera movement with video projection.

40 YEARS OF SERVICE 

Dr. Bill Leeming, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts and Science

Dr. Bill Leeming is an Associate Professor and has lectured in a range of subject areas including the social sciences, health and design and the culture of science. He has focused most of his academic career on technology adoption in medicine. His research has been published in numerous refereed journals such as Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Science, Social History of Medicine, Social Science Information, Health and Canadian Society, and Public.

Bentley Jarvis, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Art

Bentley Jarvis is an Assistant Professor who has taught at OCAD U since 1983 and has been composing and performing electroacoustic music since 1975, and teaching Sonic Arts and Electroacoustics. In 2004, he began teaching computer modelling and animation. Jarvis has sat on the Board of Directors of the Canadian League of Composers and has been President of the Forest City Gallery, London, and Vice-President of the Canadian Electroacoustic Community. Most of his work integrates electroacoustic music with a visual element such as dance, slides or video projection, computer prints or sculpture.

50 YEARS OF SERVICE 

Michael Page, Associate Professor, Faculty of Art

Michael Page is an Associate Professor whose research, exhibited artworks and papers involve holography and 3D visualization. Page has received grants for his work and research from the Canada Council, the National Research Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Ontario Centres for Excellence.

REFLECTING ON THE VIBRANT CAREERS OF RETIRING FACULTY MEMBERS 

The event culminated with a show of deep appreciation for four esteemed faculty members who retired or will be retiring this year: 

June Lawrason, Associate Professor, Faculty of Design

June Lawrason is an Associate Professor and a highly awarded Canadian Illustrator and long-serving (33 years) faculty member. Her research, service and pedagogical principles support values of equity and fairness, the fostering of diversity and respect, while developing support systems for equity seeking groups.

Douglas Back, Associate Professor, Faculty of Art

Always an innovator, Associate Professor Douglas Back began teaching at the Ontario College of Art’s Photo-Electric Arts Department in 1983 (now the Integrated Media program at OCAD U). He is notable for his early and foundational contributions to electronic media art, founding the YYZ Gallery and the InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, and his work has been exhibited in Canada and internationally. Together with his frequent artistic and academic collaborations with Dr. Norman White, Back was a pioneer in the field of electronics, physical computing and telematic art. 

Paulette Phillips, Professor, Faculty of Art

Professor Paulette Phillips joined OCAD University in 1985. Since that time, she has played a positive and impactful role in the Integrated Media program, the Sculpture/Installation program, and the Faculty of Art, as well as the Interdisciplinary Art, Media and Design (IAMD) graduate program. She has also maintained a nationally and internationally recognized artistic practice. She has worked in visual art, film and theatre and has primarily focused on sculpture and film installation, showing her work in the UK, France and Germany. 

Lewis Nicholson, Associate Professor, Faculty of Design

Lewis Nicholson is an Associate Professor and independent graphic designer who was also honoured for 20 years of service. He has collaborated on site-specific installations, video and sound works, and with Workparty – a collective of artists and designers whose exhibitions include commissions for Nuit Blanche in 2012 and 2013. He practices photography, sculpture, drawing and sound as a solo artist. He also makes music under the name “Work. Play.”