The Senate is responsible for the establishment and regulation of academic policy, standards, and procedures at OCAD University. In particular, the Senate and its many committees are in charge of academic matters pertaining to OCAD U‚ including all program curricula and courses of study, academic strategic planning, student-facing and academic administrative policies, and other such related academic priorities and initiatives. Membership of Senate consists predominantly of faculty, but also includes undergraduate and graduate student representation, as well as representatives of the academic administration. The Senate normally meets on the last Monday of every month during the academic year.

For more information on the Senate and its membership, please see the OCAD University Senate By-Laws or contact Natalie Nanton, Senate Secretary at nnanton@ocadu.ca, or at 416-977-6000, Ext. 2856.

 

OCAD University senate membership 2025/2026

EX-OFFICIO SENATORS

Ana Serrano 
President

Caroline Langill 
Vice-President, Academic and Provost, and Vice-Chair of Senate

Jaime Watt 
Chancellor

Ashok Mathur 
Vice-President, Research, and Dean, Graduate Studies

Philippe Blanchard 
Interim Dean, Faculty of Art

Lesley-Ann Noel 
Dean, Faculty of Design

Sarita Srivastava 
Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science

Ben Peto 
University Registrar & Director, Enrolment Services

Susan Kun 
University Librarian

Faculty-area Faculty Senators - Art

Claire Brunet
Amanda Boulos
Simon Glass
Bentley Jarvis
Laura Millard
James Olley
Vladimir Spicanovic

Faculty-area Faculty Senators - Design

Parantap Bhatt
Julian Goss
Suharu Ogawa
Neal Prabhu
Angelika Seeschaaf-Veres
Nancy Snow
Annie Tung

Faculty-area Faculty Senators - Faculty of Arts & Science

Ian Clarke
Ian Keteku
Katherine Kiloh
Fidelia Lam
Michelle Miller
Angus Mok
Maria Belén Ordóñez

Faculty at-Large Senators

Ross Bullen
Peter Coppin
Jim Drobnick
Cindy Poremba
Helmut Reichenbӓcher
Suzanne Stein
[Vacant]

Program Chairs - Faculty of Art

JJ Lee
Amy Swartz

Program Chairs - Faculty of Design

Angela Bains
Maya Desai

Program Chairs - Faculty of Arts and Science

Suzanne Morrissette
Emma Westecott

Graduate Program Directors

Simone Jones
Amish Morrell

Sessional Faculty Senators

TBD
TBD

Undergraduate Student Senators

TBD
Faculty of Art

TBD
Faculty of Design

TBD
Faculty of Arts & Science

Graduate Student Senator

TBD
Graduate Studies

Appointed Senators

Maggie Broda
External Member appointed by and from the Board of Governors
Peter Morin
Chair, Indigenous Education Council
Deanne Fisher
Vice-Provost, Students and International, appointed by virtue of office
Sean Baker
Director, Learning Pathways, appointed by virtue of office
Susan Ferguson
Director, Teaching and Learning, appointed by virtue of office
Melissa General
Director, Indigenous Initiatives, appointed by virtue of office

Senate meetings

At least seven regular Senate meetings will be held between September 1 and May 31, except where the secretary, in consultation with the Senate Executive Committee, determines that circumstances warrant a change from the normal schedule. No meeting of the senate will be of more than three hours in duration, except by the affirmative vote of two thirds of those present and voting to extend for a specific period of time. All outstanding business will be deferred until the next meeting, unless a special meeting is called.

Senate meetings will take place on the last Monday of every month, from 3:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., unless otherwise stated, during the Fall and Winter terms. For more information, please contact Natalie Nanton, Secretary to Senate at nnanton@ocadu.ca.

Minutes of each meeting will be posted after approval at Senate. An agenda for upcoming meetings will be made available in advance.

September 29, 2025AgendaMinutes
October 27, 2025AgendaMinutes
November 24, 2025AgendaMinutes
January 26, 2026AgendaMinutes
February 23, 2026AgendaMinutes
March 30, 2026AgendaMinutes
April 27, 2026AgendaMinutes
May 25, 2026AgendaMinutes

More information and contact

For more information on the Senate and its membership, please see the OCAD University Senate By-Laws or contact Natalie Nanton, Secretary to Senate at nnanton@ocadu.ca, or at 416-977-6000, Ext. 2856.