Jana Macalik

Jana Macalik is the Director of the Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD University in Toronto. A seasoned academic leader, she has played a transformative role at OCAD U since 2014, where she has served as Associate Dean, Research, Outreach and Strategic Projects (2014–2019), Associate Dean, Academic Affairs in the Faculty of Design (2018–2020), and Acting Associate Dean, Academic Affairs (2021–2022) and Acting Dean (2022 - 2023) in the Faculty of Art In each role, she has helped to shape institutional priorities in curriculum innovation, faculty development, interdisciplinary research, and community-engaged practices.

From 2023 to 2025, Jana was seconded to NSCAD University in Halifax, where she served first as Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic & Research), and later as Interim President. During her tenure, she guided institutional reforms aligned with provincial legislation, championed equity-focused academic renewal, and stewarded NSCAD’s national and international research partnerships.

Jana brings over 25 years of experience in design practice and higher education. Her creative work spans cultural exhibition design, branding, and spatial storytelling, with projects for institutions across North America including Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership (New York), Perennial Inc. (Toronto), and Aldrich Pears Associates (Vancouver). She continues to explore “discursive spaces”—hybrid environments that challenge binary thinking, material boundaries, and social divisions—as part of her design ethos and pedagogical approach.

As an Associate Professor, Jana is committed to nurturing interdisciplinary creative thinkers and fostering learning environments that reflect complexity, equity, and imagination. She is NCIDQ-certified, LEED ID+C accredited, and currently serves on the editorial board of Curator: The Museum Journal.

She is also a doctoral candidate in Higher Education at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), where her research examines the tension between system-level differentiation policies and the unique pedagogical models of art and design universities in Canada. Her scholarship addresses the challenges these institutions face in maintaining studio-based learning in an increasingly metrics-driven postsecondary landscape.

Jana holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies from Dalhousie University. Before joining OCAD U, she was a tenured faculty member in the School of Interior Design at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her work continues to bridge creative practice, academic leadership, and systems thinking in service of more just and imaginative futures.

AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE: exhibition design, interior design, design research, higher education, organizational studies

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Environmental Design, Dalhousie University
Master of Architecture, Dalhousie University
PhD-ABD (High Education), OISE/University of Toronto

PUBLICATIONS AS EDITOR
• Fraser, J. , Moussouri, T. , Golding, V. and Macalik, J. (2019), Philosophy, Art, and Social Value. Curator. Wiley Publications January 2019, Vol. 62/1.
• Macalik, J. , Fraser, J. and McKinley, K. (2015). Special Issue: Special Issue On Discursive Space Museums, Communities, And Society Users As Collaborators. Curator. Wiley Publications January 2015, Vol. 58/1

ARTICLES AND PAPERS AS AUTHOR
• Fraser, J. , Moussouri, T. , Golding, V. and Macalik, J. (2019), Philosophy, Art, and Social Value. Curator, 62: 5-6. doi:10.1111/cura.12293
• Macalik, J. , Fraser, J. and McKinley, K. (2015), Introduction to the Special Issue: Discursive Space. Curator, 58: 1-3. doi:10.1111/cura.12093
• Macalik, J. (2011). BIM and I: How advanced modelling technology will change studio learning. Interior Tools, Interior Tactics. London: Libri Books, pp. 59-66
• Macalik, J. (2010). U’Nity and the Museum Experience. Design Principles & Practices: An International Journal, Melbourne, Australia: CGPublisher, pp. 83-98
• Macalik, J. (2008). BIM and I: How advanced modelling technology will change studio learning. Interiors Forum Scotland: Interior Tools, Interior Tactics Conference Proceedings [online] http://www.interiorsforumscotland.com/page16.htm
• Macalik, J. (2008). The Museum is the Message. Onsite Review 20: Museums + Archives, Calgary, AB: Architectural Fieldwork, pp. 64-65
• Macalik, J. (2007). In a Culture Like Ours: U’Nity within the Virtual and Real Museum Experience. The International Journal on the Arts in Society, Melbourne, Australia: CGPublisher, pp. 26-34

PRESENTATIONS
• Macalik, J. (2025). From differentiation to collaboration: The role of specialized art and design universities in bridging disciplinary silos. Paper presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education (CSSHE) Annual Conference, Toronto, ON, Canada.
• Macalik, J. (2020). Design Education: Moving the conversation to the schools. She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation with the Lucerne School of Art and Design, Lucerne, Switzerland (online), 7 October 2020
• Macalik, J. (2020) BEAT Mix. Building Equality in Architecture Toronto, Toronto, ON. 23 January 2020
• Macalik, J. (2020) How to Win, Nurture, and Retain Millennial Talent. Interior Design Show, Toronto, ON. 18 January 2020
• Macalik, J. & Samseth, J. (2016). Education Designed for the Future: How to make industry internships part of a transatlantic design collaboration. Canadian Bureau of International Education, Ottawa, ON, 13-15 November 2016
• Macalik, J. (2013). Striking Curiosity: Self-examining identity and the visitor experience. Discursive Space, Toronto, ON, 20-23 June 2013
• Macalik, J. and Polo, M. (2012). Understanding Junior Designers. IIDEX, Toronto, ON, 21 September 2012
• Macalik, J. (2010). U’Nity and the Museum Experience. 4th International Conference on Design Principles and Practices, Chicago, IL, 13-15 February 2010
• Macalik, J. (2009). U’Nity and the Museum Experience. Atmosphere 2009, Winnipeg, MB, 5-7 February 2009
• Macalik, J. (2008) “Building Information Modeling: State of the A&D Industry and BIM integration into design education” Raison D’ Etre, On-Line Proceedings, IDEC 2008 Annual Conference, University of Montréal.
• Macalik, J. (2008). BIM and I: How advanced modelling technology will change studio learning. Interiors Forum Scotland: Interior Tools, Interior Tactics, Edinburgh, Scotland, 21-23 August 2008
• Macalik, J. (2007). In a Culture Like Ours: U’Nity within the Virtual and Real Museum Experience. Second International Conference on the Arts in Society, Kassel, Germany, 21-24 August 2007
• Macalik, J. (2007). Millennial Students: Are we teaching the next generation of designers the right way? Canadian Design Educators Forum, IIDEX, Toronto, ON, 29 September 2007
• Macalik, J. (2007). The Culture of Interiors + The Interiors of Culture. Explore Design: The Design Education Fair, Toronto, ON, 11 October 2007
• Macalik, J. & Mitchell, A. (2006). The Vertical Studio. Interior Design Educators Council, East Region Conference, Union, NJ, 20 October 2006
• Macalik, J. & Mitchell, A. (2006). The Vertical Studio. Canadian Design Educators Forum, IIDEX, Toronto, ON, 30 September 2006
• Macalik, J. (2000). (Invited panel participant) Women in Architecture. RAIC 2000 Annual Conference, Ottawa, ON,

ORGANIZED SYMPOSIA/CONFERENCES
• “Urban Ecologies 2015” Director. Faculty of Design, OCAD University. Conference examining the future design of our cities with participants including Dr. Rachel Armstrong, Danny Wills and Newsha Ghaeli June 17-19, 2015.
• “Discursive Space” Chair. School of Interior Design, Ryerson University & Art Gallery of Ontario. Symposium addressing the breaking barriers in spatial communication in museums with participants including Ian Baxter&, Tom Hennes, Jana Scholtz, Kathleen McLean. June 20-23, 2013.
• “CTL_ALT_SHFT: Alternative Paths In Design”. Co-organized with Evan Pavka. School of Interior Design, Ryerson University. Symposium addressing changing careers in interior design with participants including Christina Ott, Laura Carwardine + Simone Ferkul, Kelly Buffey, Ashley Rumsey + Stanley Sun, Ala Roushan, Gelareh Saadatpajouh. 22 October 2012
• “Raising the Roof” Co-organized with Annick Mitchell. School of Interior Design, Ryerson University. IDEC East Region Symposium addressing current issues shaping interior design with participants including Ellen Fisher, Diego Burdi, Rachel Pike, Alex Bal. 24-25 October 2008.

EXHIBITIONS
• Macalik, J., Peterson, J., & Watters, D. (2011). Home is Where, Art Installation, Come Up to My Room: Alternative Design Event, Toronto, ON, 27-30 January 2011
• Macalik, J. (2010). U-Nity at Work, Media Installation, Nuit Blanche, Toronto, ON, 2-3 October 2010
• Macalik, J, Dolgoy, S., Dowling, C.,& Mitchell, A.(2009) In Praise of Shadows, Interactive Light Installation, Nuit Blanche, Toronto, ON, 3-4 October 2009

EXHIBITIONS AS CURATOR
• Come Up to My Room. Co-curator with Jennie Suddick. Gladstone Hotel/DesignTO. Alternative Design exhibition. 17-20 January 2019
• Come Up to My Room. Co-curator with Christophe Jivraj. Gladstone Hotel/Toronto Design Offsite. Alternative Design exhibition. 21-26 January 2018
• Come Up to My Room. Co-curator with Christophe Jivraj. Gladstone Hotel/Toronto Design Offsite. Alternative Design exhibition. 21-26 January 2017
• Other Worlds. Co-curator with Anda Kubis. Lieutenant Governor’s Suite. 20 September – 20 December 2016
• Come Up to My Room. Co-curator with Nuria Montblanch. Gladstone Hotel/Toronto Design Offsite. Alternative Design exhibition. 21-26 January 2016