CAFAD Honours Caroline Langill with Senior Leadership Award
National award recognizes extraordinary contributions to arts leadership and academic innovation
The Canadian Association of Fine Arts Deans (CAFAD) is pleased to announce that Caroline Langill has been named the 2025 recipient of CAFAD’s Senior Leadership Award, presented at the annual CAFAD conference hosted this year, on October 16, 2025, at the University of British Columbia.
The Senior Leadership Award recognizes a senior academic leader who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to arts education in Canada through visionary leadership, advocacy, and support for faculty, students, and staff.
Dr. Langill, an artist, curator and scholar in new media art and Canadian art history, recently completed her term as Vice-President, Academic and Provost at OCAD University, where she has played a pivotal role in shaping Canada’s largest art and design university. Her leadership has been marked by a steadfast commitment to equity, student success, and innovation in curriculum and research.
“Caroline’s career exemplifies the very best of academic leadership in the arts,” said Dr. Vicki St. Pierre, Chair of CAFAD. “She has consistently championed the role of art and design in addressing complex social, cultural, and technological challenges, while building structures that allow others to thrive. Her impact is evident not only at OCAD University, but across the national ecosystem of arts education.”
Throughout her tenure in senior leadership, Dr. Langill has supported major institutional initiatives, including new academic programs, strengthened research activity, and enhanced support for faculty and students. Her work has foregrounded digital futures, Indigenous knowledges, and community-engaged practice, helping to position Canadian art and design education on the international stage.
“It is a profound honour to receive this award from colleagues who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of leading in the arts,” said Dr. Langill. “CAFAD has been an important space for shared learning and mutual support, and I share this recognition with the many faculty, staff, and students with whom I have had the privilege to work.”
CAFAD’s Senior Leadership Award is one of the Association’s highest honours, celebrating leaders whose work advances the visibility, sustainability, and societal impact of the arts within post-secondary education.
About CAFAD
The Canadian Association of Fine Arts Deans (CAFAD) is a national association that brings together academic leaders from universities, colleges, and art and design institutions across Canada. CAFAD fosters collaboration, advocacy, and knowledge-sharing to support excellence in fine and performing arts education, research, and creative practice.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Vicki St. Pierre
Chair, Canadian Association of Fine Arts Deans (CAFAD)
vstpierre@mta.ca