Open to opportunities

CRAIG LEONARD

@craigleonard

Interdisciplinary applied research specialist bridging systems thinking, AI-human interaction, and visual communication.

Canada

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek interdisciplinary research or academic roles that prioritize systems-focused inquiry, ethical AI exploration, collaborative teaching, and opportunities to develop transdisciplinary curricula.

I am an interdisciplinary applied research specialist focused on systems thinking, AI-human interaction, and visual communication, with a long career in academia, curatorial practice, and artistic research. My work bridges critical theory, aesthetics, and speculative methods to address ethics and design in emerging technologies.

I have held leadership roles including Director of the MFA Program and Professor of Expanded Media at NSCAD University, and I have published books and essays on aesthetics, perception, and systems thinking. My research includes forthcoming and recent roles as a post-doctoral researcher at the Grothendieck Institute and a visiting researcher at the Topos Institute.

I bring experience in curriculum design, thesis supervision, public speaking, and interdisciplinary collaboration, alongside residencies, exhibitions, and grants that demonstrate sustained impact in art, research, and critical studies.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Director, MFA Program

NSCAD University

Jan 2021 - Jan 2025 (4 years)

Designed a transdisciplinary graduate curriculum and supervised MFA thesis development, advancing research in platform aesthetics and critical theory across cohorts (2021–2024, Winter 2025).

Curriculum Design Academic Leadership Curriculum Evaluation Research Ethics

Professor, Expanded Media

NSCAD University

Jan 2006 - Jan 2025 (19 years)

Taught interdisciplinary courses in art/media theory, interaction design, and critical aesthetics while mentoring MFA candidates on data visualization and speculative UX projects (2006–2025).

Teaching Mentorship Interaction Design Data Visualization Critical Theory

Regional Director

Butterfield and Robinson

Jan 1997 - Jan 2001 (4 years)

Managed operations, strategy, and multi-market teams across Central and Eastern Europe and designed immersive itineraries informed by field research and user-journey mapping (1997–2001).

Operations Management Regional Strategy Team Leadership Itinerary Design Field Research Customer Experience