Presidential Installation

Dr. Trish Kelly has been a dedicated member of the Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) community for over a decade, serving in numerous capacities that have helped shape the institution's academic and creative vision. Before her recent appointment as President + Vice-Chancellor, she served as Vice-President Academic + Provost, a role she assumed in 2019. Her deep commitment to ECU is reflected in her extensive experience within the university, including serving as a faculty member, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, and various other leadership positions.

Dr. Kelly holds a PhD in Art History from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Arts from Tufts University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. Before her tenure at ECU, she was an Associate Professor at DePaul University in Chicago, where she established herself as a respected scholar and educator.

As an art historian and educator, Dr. Kelly's research and writings on contemporary art have been widely published in peer-reviewed journals such as Art Journal, American Art, Journal of Curatorial Studies, and The Sixties: A Journal of History, Politics, and Culture. Her scholarly work explores a range of subjects, including minimal art and abstraction, the intersection of art and politics, alternative art networks, and the dynamics of time and duration in new media production. Central to her research is a sustained interest in viewership and art-making as forms of knowledge production.

Dr. Kelly is committed to collaborative and inclusive leadership models. She has actively contributed to the broader community by serving on various boards and advisory committees, including the Food Stash Foundation, which promotes food security, zero waste, and sustainable agriculture, and the Academic Committee of the GNW Trust, dedicated to fostering inclusive and participatory partnerships between post-secondary institutions.

Brock University
St. Catharines, Ontario

Moncton University
Moncton, New Brunswick

Mount Royal University
Calgary, Alberta

Ontario College of Art & Design University
Toronto, Ontario

Ontario Tech University
Oshawa, Ontario

Royal Roads University
Colwood, British Columbia

St. Thomas University
Fredericton, New Brunswick

Thompson Rivers University
Kamloops, British Columbia

Université de Saint-Boniface
Winnipeg, Manitoba

University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta

University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC

University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta

University of the Fraser Valley
Fraser Valley, British Columbia

University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba

University of New Brunswick
Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick

University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia

• a shield with a geometric allusion to perspective,
• a crest rising from a wreath of blue and white depicting a raven in Coast Salish style that represents transformation and cleverness,
• and two crows (noted for their intelligence) who support the shield on either side and represent the university’s urban setting.

The crest was designed by Musqueam artist Susan A. Point (D. Litt), a past Board member of Emily Carr.

Eye, Mind + Hand

The Emily Carr motto links together the notion of perception and visualization of the world through the eyes, the operation of the artist’s mind in the creative process and the use of hands to bring an idea to life.

It depicts elements of an eagle, a human figure, a map of British Columbia and bells. The handle is representative of a talking stick, used in Indigenous ceremonies for centuries.

The intricately carved swirl in the base is designed to emphasize the power of the mace.

Photo by Kim Bellavance.