Dear NSCAD Community,
NSCAD’s 2019-2020 annual report captures the University’s achievements within a year like no other, indelibly marked by a hurricane, renewed calls for social justice across the world, and an ongoing global pandemic. Throughout it all, the NSCAD community demonstrated its willingness and capacity to adapt to its changing environment and transform the way it approaches teaching, learning, and making art, design and craft.
We have started the 2020 fall semester with a completely revamped online program and a full complement of students, meeting our post-COVID targets. My sincere thanks to the administration and faculty who have worked tirelessly over the past number of months to achieve this incredible success. Bravo!
As a group of dedicated volunteers who care deeply about NSCAD and its community, the Board of Governors is committed to maintaining the university as an independent and leading centre for education and research that deeply values equity, diversity, and inclusivity. We remain steadfast in our mission to affirm NSCAD’s position as a leading creative institution in Canada and beyond, providing an innovative and comprehensive education for its students, always with the pursuit of a sustainable future and a greater sense of belonging for all.
The Board champions these core values by ensuring good governance, upholding NSCAD’s mission and vision, and always acting in the best interests of the University as a whole while reflecting the broad diversity of our community.
To help do so for the coming year, it is my great pleasure to introduce the 2020-2021 NSCAD University Board of Governors, which was ratified during the Annual General Meeting held virtually on September 24.
Jayce Byrne, Vice President, Finance/Equity, SUNSCAD
Dr. Marco Chiarot, Citadel Oral Facial Surgery
Louise Anne Comeau, Vice President, New Energy Markets and Innovation, Emera
Gary Edwards, secretary at Colonel Harland Sanders Charities, musician, lawyer
Joanne Hames, Senior Manager Internal Communications, Crombie REIT
Jim Horwich, Former Partner (Business Advisor), Grant Thornton LLP (retired)
Duane Jones, (BDes 2004), Creative Director, Art Pays Me
Sean Kelly, Partner, Stewart McKelvey
Dean Leland, CEO & Managing Partner, Oceanstone Seaside Resort Indian Harbour
Jamie Loughery, Regional President, BMO Financial Group
Alan MacPherson, President, Duron Atlantic Ltd.
Maggie Marwah, Consultant, Marwah & MacLeod Communications Management
Sarah McKinnon, PhD, NSCAD University Interim President
Kris Reppas, President, SUNSCAD
Dave van de Wetering, Account Director, Ciena Canada
I extend a special welcome to the seven new board members joining us this year:
Shelley Burke
Managing Director of Operations, NVision Insight Group Inc. Shelley is a senior manager and management consulting professional with over 30 years of experience in strategic and operational planning, business transformation, management of organizational change, program evaluation and review, and facilitating workshops with diverse stakeholder participants.
Fabienne Colas
A woman of action and creative spirit, Fabienne is a charismatic leader with an unwavering persistence to makes things happen. She created and manages nine successful festivals including the Montreal International Black Film Festival, and the very popular Toronto Black Film Festival. Fabienne is an Award-winning actress, filmmaker, speaker, entrepreneur, consultant, President and Founder of the Fabienne Colas Foundation, as well as NSCAD’s virtual Visiting Artist in Residence in Film and Media Studies.
Jennifer Green
Assistant Professor, Craft, NSCAD began teaching at NSCAD in 2016. An alum of the school, she pursued further studies at the Royal College of Art, London. Jennifer brings important international experience in the creative business realm to the Board, having worked with Lee Jeans in Belgium and Fiat Automobile.
Cheryl Hann
CMA, Chief Operating Officer, Viewpoint Realty Services Inc. Cheryl is a seasoned finance and business executive with 25 years of experience in finance, accounting, and operational management, with a focus on small to medium sized companies and start-ups. Throughout her career, Cheryl has demonstrated the ability to develop process, reporting and operational improvements that contribute significantly to her organization’s growth.
John Keating
Regional Vice President, Real Estate Finance, BMO Financial Group. John has 10 years’ experience in real estate banking and has been the Treasurer for the Canadian Homebuilders Association of Nova Scotia for the last eight years. John is accomplished in managing the portfolios of diverse clients, and his real estate expertise will be invaluable to the Board as we continue to advance our infrastructure strategy.
Dr. Charmaine Nelson
Professor, Historical and Critical Studies, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Transatlantic Black Diasporic Art and Community Engagement at NSCAD. A highly published author, Charmaine brings a rich academic perspective to the Board, having taught at McGill, Harvard, University of California (as a Fulbright Scholar) and Concordia. Charmaine will also be an important contributor to our ongoing discussions on diversity and inclusivity given her deep expertise in visual culture including critical thought on race and representation.
Anthony Novac
President, Sonco Gaming Inc. Anthony is a highly successful entrepreneur with significant experience in real estate. An art collector and past board member of the
The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto, Anthony brings invaluable insights into the world of art and implications of a transition to the creative and entrepreneurial world for students. He has long been active in joint ventures with major multi-national gaming/entertainment companies, Aboriginal groups and First Nations.
Welcome also to new Life Governor John Carruthers. NSCAD Governor-in-Council (2013-2016), NSCAD Treasurer (Oct. 2014 – Oct. 2016), NSCAD Chair, Financial and Physical Resources Committee (2013-2016). John understands the importance of an independent fine art and design university, and has carried out a number of challenging roles in a manner that maintained the respect of students, faculty and staff.
I want to thank all of our governors, renewing and incoming, for their passion for NSCAD and their continuing commitment of time and expertise. On behalf of the Board, we appreciate the support we have received from members of the NSCAD and broader community, including donors, alumni, and government.
Sincerely,
Louise Anne Comeau, Chair
NSCAD Board of Governors