(Toronto—January 20, 2012) OCAD University congratulates Dr. Sara Diamond, President and Vice-Chancellor of the university since 2005, for her appointment to the Order of Ontario. Recognition of Dr. Diamond’s achievements were made public today in an announcement of 27 Ontario citizens who have made contributions to the arts, law, science, medicine, history, politics, philanthropy and the environment.
The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will invest the appointees at a ceremony on Thursday, January 26 at Queen's Park.
Dr. Sara Diamond holds a PhD in computer science along with degrees in new media theory and practice, social history and communications.
"We are delighted that Sara's leadership in education and innovation, at OCAD University and with the many organizations where she volunteers her time, has been recognized by the province of Ontario," says Ian Tudhope, chair of the board of governors for OCAD University. "I want to extend our board's congratulations, and my personal congratulations, to Sara for being appointed to the Order of Ontario."
While retaining OCAD University's traditional strengths in art and design, Diamond has guided the university in becoming a leader in digital media, design research and curriculum through the Digital Futures Initiative, new research in Inclusive Design, health and design, as well as in sustainable technologies and design. She also played a leading role in OCAD University's establishment of the unique Aboriginal Visual Culture Program. These initiatives have built strong partnerships for OCAD University with science, business and communities, in Ontario and abroad. Currently, she serves on the Ontario Ministry of Culture’s Advisory Council on Arts & Culture, the Board of Directors of the Toronto Arts Council Foundation, ORANO (Ontario’s high-speed network), SHARCNET, IO (Interactive Ontario), Canadian Women in Communications and is Chair of the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche Toronto Advisory Committee. Diamond serves the larger university community through her membership on the Standing Advisory Committee on University Research (SACUR) of the Association of Universities and Colleges and as Chair of the Standing Committee on Relationships with Other Postsecondary Institutions for the Council of Ontario Universities. Diamond is a member of the Council of the Canadian Academies expert panel on the State of Science & Technology in Canada.
She is a data visualization, wearable technology and mobile media researcher, artist and designer. She developed www.codezebra.net, a performance and media art, fashion and software collaboration environment. Diamond is founding Chair of the Mobile Experience Innovation Centre and current co-chair (with RBC). She is co-principal investigator on the Centre for Information Visualization/Data Driven Design, an OCAD U/York University major initiative and the board of National Centre of Excellence GRAND. Diamond continues to write about digital media history, digital media and design strategy for peer-reviewed journals. Her artwork is held by prestigious collections such as the Museum of Modern Art, NYC and the National Gallery of Canada.
Diamond was the Artistic Director of Media and Visual Art and Director of Research at the Banff Centre, where she created the Banff New Media Institute (BNMI) in 1995 and led it until 2005. In this role she assisted with the development, incubation and support of many of Canada's leading new media companies. Diamond created and was the Editor-in-Chief of www.horizonzero.ca, an online showcase for new media art and design in collaboration with Heritage Canada and The Banff Centre. At the Banff Centre she created international think tanks and collaborations in ICT, digital media and science research with artists, designers and scientists from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Central and Western Europe and the U.S.A., as well as Canada. Later this year, Euphoria & Dystopia: The Banff New Media Dialogues, for which Diamond served as co-editor, will be published by Banff Centre Press and Riverdale Architectural Press, University of Waterloo.
Photos courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.
OCAD University (OCAD U): 135 Years of Imagination
OCAD University (www.ocadu.ca) is Canada’s “University of the Imagination.” The University, founded in 1876, is dedicated to art and design education, practice and research and to knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines. OCAD University is building on its traditional, studio-based strengths, adding new approaches to learning that champion cross-disciplinary practice, collaboration and the integration of emerging technologies. In the Age of Imagination, OCAD University community members will be uniquely qualified to act as catalysts for the next advances in culture, technology and quality of life for all Canadians.
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For more information contact:
Sarah Mulholland, Media & Communications Officer
416-977-6000 Ext. 327 (mobile Ext. 1327)