Current students, faculty, and staff
The OCAD University’s Board of Governors is welcoming two new members in addition to the re-election of two incumbents. These include Kerry Swanson, the chief executive officer of the Indigenous Screen Office; Colleen Baldwin, vice-president, head of Global Design Strategy and Transformation at Scotiabank; Nick Hooper, director, Facilities and Studio Services at OCAD U; and Annie Yan, student engagement and records coordinator in the Faculty of Arts and Science.
External Board members
Kerry Swanson was elected as an external Board member for a three-year term earlier this year. Swanson has been a leader in Canada’s Indigenous arts and culture sector for over two decades. She is the chief executive officer of the Indigenous Screen Office, an independent funding and advocacy organization serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis screen-based storytellers across Canada. She is also a co-founder of Indigenous Fashion Arts biennial festival in Toronto and has served in leadership roles at the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.
Colleen Baldwin was re-elected as an external Board member for a three-year term, beginning Oct. 4. She is the vice-president, head of Global Design Strategy and Transformation at Scotiabank. In this role, she is responsible for the design and architecture of the bank’s portfolio of office and retail space. Baldwin has served as a director on the boards of The Design Exchange and Camp Oochigeas (now Campfire Circle) and the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Toronto.
Internal Board members
Nick Hooper, director, Facilities and Studio Services at OCAD U, was elected to fill the permanent manager position for a two-year term, effective July 1. Hooper’s previous experience as an independent artist and prop builder/special effects technician provides him with a wide range of fabrication and creation skills, as well as experience in production and resource management. In his role, he provides oversight of all studios and physical facilities. He has successfully managed the growth of studio resources, changes in curriculum delivery and the evolution of the OCAD U Campus.
Annie Yan, student communication and campus community program coordinator, was re-elected to fill the permanent staff position for a two-year term, effective July 1. In her role at OCAD U, Yan focuses on student engagement and retention strategies. She believes that every student’s journey is integral to the long-term success and growth of the University.
Departing members
OCAD U thanks outgoing members for their contribution on the Board:
Abel Escobar, elected to the Board in Oct. 2022, completes his term in Oct. 2025. He currently serves as the vice-president, compliance and risk management at FirstService Corporation. Escobar has more than two decades of experience performing audit and risk projects in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Spain, Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina. He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation and a certification in risk management assurance.
Heather Robson is the director of Research Services at OCAD U. She joined the Board in July 2021 and completed her term in June 2025. An OCAD U alum, Robson has over 10 years of experience in research administration and project management in the post-secondary education sector.
Luciana Gomes Da Silva joined the Board in Oct. 2023 when she was elected as an OCAD U undergraduate student representative. She completed her term in June 2025. Her studies focus on animation and interactive design, reflecting her passion for fine arts and design.
About the OCAD U Board of Governors
The 28-member OCAD U Board of Governors is responsible for governing the affairs of the University, including approving the budget and establishing policies and institutional priorities. Its members include 18 external members, which include six appointees from the Government of Ontario, 10 elected by the Board and two elected by the OCAD U Alumni Association.
The remaining 10 members are drawn from the OCAD U internal community, including three faculty members who are appointed by Senate, two staff members elected by permanent managers and staff, respectively, and three students (two undergraduate and one graduate). The President and Chancellor are ex-officio members of the Board.