George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
Dr.
Ana Rita Morais
Biography
Dr. Ana Rita Morais is a distinguished Portuguese-born, Toronto-based academic, educator, and leader in the design and technology education sector. Currently, she serves as the Dean, Faculty of Business, Creative Industries and Culinary Arts. Dr. Morais leads with a commitment to innovation, overseeing programs that blend creative design and digital technology. Her dedication to education excellence was recognized when she received Eastern Canada's 2021 RGD Educator Award.
With extensive experience in academia and a strong background in communication and culture, Dr. Morais has been instrumental in shaping curriculum and academic standards across various programs, particularly in the School of Design, where she served as Associate Dean for seven years. She has pioneered significant projects, including the development of the Honours Bachelor of Brand Design program, demonstrating her expertise in curriculum innovation and academic leadership.
With a focus on design and community engagement, she played an integral role as a design mentor and identity lead in the naming process for the WNBA's Toronto Tempo. Further, she runs Pay Design Interns, a database advocating for the equitable and fair pay of design and creative interns, and is a former member of the Board of Directors at The ArQuives.
With a keen commitment to research and innovation, Dr. Morais has held several grants, including a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Most recently, she was the Principal Investigator on the multi-year NSERC CCSIF-funded project, "Design Thinking to Optimize Pre-Surgical Care" at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, aiming to optimize pre-surgical care through design thinking. This project reflects her interdisciplinary approach, merging healthcare with innovative design solutions.
Dr. Morais obtained her Doctorate from the Communication and Culture Program at Toronto Metropolitan University, where her research-creation project, me-dérive: toronto, made significant contributions to the discourse on augmented reality and urban history. In recognition of her scholarly contributions and her influence on both the academic and practical aspects of design education, Dr. Morais has presented her scholarly work at several international institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oxford University, City University London, Malmö University, and the Toronto International Film Festival, further establishing her as a thought leader in her field.
Dr. Morais's career is driven by a passion for pedagogy, research, and innovation, which she balances with her love for community engagement and her English bulldog, Rosie. Her leadership at George Brown Polytechnic not only enhances the academic environment but also fosters a culture of inclusivity and creativity, preparing students to become future leaders in the Creative Industries.