Tess van Groll, BA (Washington University, St. Louis), Assoc. in Applied Science (Fashion Institute of Technology)
Tess has been teaching at Sheridan since 2007. She is currently in the final stages of completing her Masters Degree at Brock University. For over 25 years, Tess has integrated textile product development for interior use for both the Canadian and US market with teaching and educational program development. Tess is the Coordinator for the Bachelor of Applied Arts-Interior Design program.
Miranda McVeigh, MID (University of Manitoba), BES (University of Waterloo), ARIDO Educator, IDC
Miranda has worked in interior design and architectural firms across Ontario, Alberta and British Colombia. Projects have included work in the health care, corporate, commercial and residential sectors. She brings this experience to Sheridan where along with teaching she is also the Program Coordinator. Miranda has been awarded the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Award of Excellence, Professional Interior Designers of Manitoba Medal, the Professional Interior Designers Institute of Manitoba Master of Interior Design Practicum Prize and the David Jenkins Memorial Award. Miranda is also the Student Liaison with the ARIDO Southern Ontario Chapter and the Sheridan Representative with the Alliance of Canadian Educators in Interior Design.
Tuli (Ahmad) Akhtari, MSD (Arizona State University), BSc (Minnesota State University), ARIDO Educator, IDC
Tuli integrates her education and practical experience from multiple design disciplines (Interior Design, Facilities Management and Construction Management) to bring a diverse perspective to education. Her research involves the implementation of lighting in design practice and pedagogy. Tuli's professional experience spreads across retail, residential and healthcare design at various locations in the United States.
Mary Jane Carroll, Dipl. (Sheridan Institute), MFA (Ohio State University), IDEC, ARIDO
Trained in Interior Design at Sheridan College, Mary Jane was also the coordinator of the program from 1993-2000 and Associate Dean from 2000-2003. She has worked as a consultant where her clients included Cooper Corporation and Petro Canada amoung others. Most recently she developed the specialized post-diploma program for designers Design for an Aging Population (DAP). Mary Jane also sits on the Interior Design Continuing Education Committee of ARIDO.
Brad Culver, MUDS (University of Toronto), BA (University of Alberta), BEDS, BArch (Dalhousie University), OAA, ARIDO Educator
Brad Culver has been a Professor in the Sheridan Interior Design Program since 2000. He was Academic Co-ordinator from 2000 to 2003. His teaching and research emphasize sustainable design, creative exploration, critical analysis, independent research, design history, the language of style, and design education. His courses explore the 'process' of design, emphasizing rigorous student involvement, scholarship and initiative.
Brad completed a Master of Urban Design Studies (MUDS) degree from the University of Toronto in 2009, while on Sabbatical. He has Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) and Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (BEDS) degrees from the Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie University) in Halifax. He also has a BA (with distinction) from the University of Alberta.
He is a partner in the Interior Design firm Culver and Henderson Building Design Inc. (since 1991) and is the principal of the Architecture firm Brad Culver, Architect (since 1999), both located in Toronto. He is a member of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and was for many years active as an Educator member of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO). His work has been featured in various magazine articles, exhibitions, books, and television shows.
Brad was nominated as a TVO (TV Ontario) 'Best Lecturer' in the 2009-10 television competition of various university/college teachers.
Raymond Dunning, Dipl. (Mount Royal College), BA (Ryerson University), MID (University of Manitoba)
Raymond brings his many years of practical experience working with corporate clients such as BMG, CTV, Etna Life Insurance, Gowlings LLP and Royal Bank to his students. He has also designed for health care, booth/exhibit displays, hospitality, retail boutiques, private residences and nightclubs. Raymond's areas of specialization include issues of diversity within the built environment.
Leo Grightmire, BPA-CS, Dipl (Sheridan Inst.), NCIDQ Cert., ARIDO, IDC
Leo has been with Sheridan full time since 1997. His design portfolio includes custom residential, corporate, hospitality, retail and institutional projects. He has a degree in communication studies from Athabasca University and a diploma in interior design from Sheridan College. He is NCIDQ certified and an Educator member of ARIDO. He is currently working on his masters degree from Athabasca University.
Cameron McKee BA, (University of Guelph), MFA – Interior Design (Rochester Institute of Technology)
Cameron has gained design experience in the field working in the private and public sector, involving healthcare and commercial office design. He has previously worked for General Electric Supply, General Electric Canada and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
Alex Murphy, BEDS, MArch (Dalhousie University), NCIDQ cert.
Alex’s diverse portfolio includes corporate office design, set design, residential design, healthcare and retail design. His design interests range from the purely aesthetic, to the built environments capacity to embody ideas and to influence and change the perception of marginal and disadvantaged groups. He has mentored several junior designers and students while continuing to develop his knowledge of design, education and writing.
Julie Nichols, Dipl (Sheridan Inst.)
As the Technologist for the Interior Design and Interior Decorating programs, Julie oversees many of the day to day activities of the program as well as the special events such as guest speakers, trips, shows and third year work placement. She maintains and updates the Resource Centre and Sample Room and assists students with their material research and projects. Research into Sustainable Design practices and materials are an area of special interest and importance for Julie.