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Extended Studies

Presidential
search committee

As the leader of an inclusive academic community where members are known and celebrated for their creativity and differences, the president of NSCAD ensures the university is promoting creative progress and pursuing sustainable leadership in art, craft and design.

The Presidential Search Committee (PSC) convened in January 2025 to start the search process after Dr. Peggy Shannon advised the Board she was ending her term as president of NSCAD. Since February 2025, Jana Macalik served as Interim President and well as Interim Vice-President, Academic + Research and Provost. On July 1, 2025, NSCAD’s Chief Financial Officer Leanne Dowe assumed the interim president position and served until September 1 when NSCAD Professor David B. Smith took on the role.

The PSC worked with executive search firm KBRS to help the committee consult broadly with the NSCAD community to guide the evaluation and recommendation of candidates. Throughout spring 2025, KBRS directly engaged with external communities to share thoughts on the key opportunities and challenges for NSCAD, as well as the key qualities they would like to see in the next president.

The position was publicly posted in July 2025. Three candidates have been shortlisted since then; each candidate will deliver a presentation to the NSCAD community and meet with students, faculty and key staff on successive weeks in January 2026.

View the executive brief for the position

 

Committee Members

  • Bill Barker (Committee Chair), NSCAD Board of Governors
  • John Keating, NSCAD Board of Governors
  • Sunil Sarwal, NSCAD Board of Governors
  • Marco Chiarot, NSCAD Board of Governors
  • Kelly Denty, NSCAD Board of Governors
  • Kim Healy, NSCAD Board of Governors
  • Simon MacDonald, NSCAD Student
  • Anton Lee, FUNSCAD
  • Ufuk Gueray, FUNSCAD
  • Mathew Reichertz, FUNSCAD
  • Steven Holmes, NSCAD Alumni Association
  • Leanne Dowe, Senior Leadership Team