Maegen Black brings more than 15 years of national and international experience to the college as its Associate Dean. Sharing knowledge of the craft market, she helps to bring a big-picture perspective to the college – guiding programs to teach students the skills that will strengthen their entrepreneurial abilities as independent makers, designers, and artists. With a background in jewellery and metalsmithing and a passion for all craft mediums, Maegen is a collector, a curator, and an arts administrator whose main goal is to see craft careers thrive.  

Before becoming NBCCD’s Associate Dean, Maegen was the Director of the Canadian Crafts Federation, where she worked directly with professional craft organizations across the country to tackle collaborative projects, national networking, and advocacy for craft and culture.

An active voice in the arts and culture field, she is a freelance curator and author, a member of the steering committee of the Canadian Arts Coalition and the Visual Arts Alliance, an Editorial Advisory Committee member to the Canadian Society for Decorative Arts’ Ornamentum Magazine, and in 2020, became the President of the North American Region of the World Craft Council International. Through all these roles and more, she helps to tell the story of contemporary craft, and encourages students and faculty at NBCCD to see themselves as a part of the ever-evolving tapestry of culture at large. 

Fun fact about Maegen: She considers herself a bit of a crow – she is a problem solver, wears a whole lot of black, and collects tiny, shiny, interesting things.