Carleen Thomas Reappointed Chancellor of Emily Carr University

The Board of Governors at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) is pleased to announce Carleen Thomas's reappointment as Chancellor of the university.

“As the Board Chair of Emily Carr University of Art + Design, it has been an absolute pleasure to work with Carleen on enhancing our impact in the community,” says Don Avison, K.C. “I look forward to progressing our centennial year goals with Carleen’s invaluable guidance and support.”

She begins her appointment on August 1. Carleen is currently the Acting Principal at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation siʔáḿθət School and was previously the Special Projects Manager in the Treaty, Lands, and Resources department.

“I am deeply honoured and delighted to be reappointed as Chancellor of Emily Carr University,” says Carleen. “Returning to this vibrant community is a privilege, and I am committed to continuing our work towards decolonization and Indigenization. Together, we can foster an environment that supports the flourishing of Indigenous knowledge, art, and culture. I look forward to working closely with the students, staff, faculty, and the wider community to realize these goals.”

Prior to her position as Acting Principal at the siʔáḿθət School, Carleen served eight two-year terms as an elected council member for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, where she held the Community Development portfolio covering health and education.

Carleen holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of British Columbia. She has previously worked for the North Vancouver and Burnaby school districts as a district resource teacher in Indigenous education. She has also sat on the Burnaby School District’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee and served as the Aboriginal Representative Chair in the Capilano University Senate.

“Under Carleen’s leadership, our university will continue to strive toward our vision of excellence by delivering a world-class education in art, media, and design for our students,” says Trish Kelly, President and Vice-Chancellor. “Collaborating with Carleen for the last three years has been an incredibly rewarding experience, particularly as ECU advances our Indigenization and decolonization initiatives. She has shown fearless leadership and unwavering dedication to advocating for students across all educational levels.”

The Chancellor serves as the ceremonial head of the university, a member of the Board of Governors and the Senate, and an external ambassador for the institution. The Chancellor presides over major ceremonies, including Convocation and confers degrees to graduating students.