Meet the faculty – ARIDO members

Justine is a Registered Interior Designer with over 13 years of experience in the industry. She is an active member of ARIDO and holds NCIDQ Certification. Her project experience spans multiple sectors and scales—from small residential renovations to multibillion-dollar commercial new builds. She is well-versed in all phases of the design process, from initial concept through to construction completion.

Justine earned her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Interior Design, a Master of Public Relations, and a BA in Art History and Mass Communication. She currently practices at HDR Architecture Inc. and teaches part-time in the Bachelor of Interior Design program at Algonquin College. She is passionate about mentoring students and actively connects them with local industry members to encourage professional networking and growth.

Jessica is a full-time professor in the Bachelor of Interior Design program at Conestoga College. She brings over ten years of industry experience to her teaching, having previously worked in the commercial and multi-residential sectors, with a focus on high-rise development. Her professional background includes positions at both an interior design firm and a developer in London, Ontario.

Jessica earned her Bachelor of Interior Design degree at Humber College and her Master of Arts in Interior Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). She also holds NCIDQ certification and is currently pursuing WELL accreditation. Jessica has volunteered with numerous organizations, including the Make-A-Wish foundation, believing that designers have a unique skill set that can positively impact their communities. 

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and golden retriever. Together, they love to travel and find inspiration wherever they go.

Dr. Mariam Wifi is a professor of design with over 20 years of academic, professional, and research experience in the field of building design. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Design from University of Montreal, QC. Where her dissertation developed an assessment framework for supporting occupants’ Quality of Life in indoor spaces. Her B.Sc. is in Architecture with a minor in Interior Design, and master’s degree that examined the psychological influences of interior spaces, bridging the multidisciplinary fields of Environmental psychology and interior design. Her graduate research also tested multiple design compositions and explored how variations in light, color, and material compositions affect users’ impressions and preferences.

Dr. Wifi is an active member in Educators ARIDO and serves on its Education Committee. She is also affiliated with multiple associations in the field of interior design, including Interior Designers of Canada (IDC). She previously served as proceeding coordinator with the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) and has been a long-standing reviewer for journals and conference proceedings, including Environmental Design Association (EDRA) and IDEC.

Dr. Wifi has great research experience in the assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Quality of Life (QoL), Humane and Sustainable interiors, and Quality of Life (QoL). She has several publications including being a co-author in “The Effect of Workplace Design on Quality of Life at Work”, in the “Handbook of Environmental Psychology and Quality of Life Research”. In addition to working as a researcher for many years in Montreal as being a member in ‘Research Group on Work Environments’, ‘Research Group on Illumination & Design’, and ‘Shape – Color – Light Laboratory’, at University of Montreal, QC, Canada.

As an educator for two decades, she has also taught many courses including Design Studios, Design Theories, Capstone projects, Professional Practices, Thesis Research and Programming, Research Methods, Building Construction, Human Factors in the built environments, Human Environmental Relations, and Environmental Control, etc.

 She has also led several positions including accreditation coordinator, IDEC coordinator of conference proceedings, head of standard, head of construction module, member of quality assurance committee and curriculum committee in Educational Institutions and Universities in Canada and the Middle East.

Dr. Wifi’s both professional and academic work focuses on user-centered and evidence-based approaches to design, understanding elements and principals, human behaviour, perception, and sensory lived experiences to create safe inclusive environments for diverse user needs. Her work pays attention to details and how interior spaces may impact occupants’ quality of life from different aspects including physical, psychological, functional, social, and cultural influences. She views design as a careful balance between safety and aesthetics, abiding by codes, standards, building constraints, yet not compromising user lived experiences to achieve healthy, comfortable, and productive environments, as she believes that ‘inhumane buildings form soulless and sometimes harmful structures’.

Meghan Mastronardi is a faculty member in the Honours Bachelor of Interior Design degree program at Fanshawe College within the Faculty of Creative Industries, School of Design. She holds a Master of Interior Design degree, along with a Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree, both from Lawrence Technological University in Michigan.
Meghan has been teaching full-time in the Interior Design program at Fanshawe College since 2011 and currently serves as the Program Coordinator. She is an NCIDQ certified Interior Designer, a LEED Accredited Professional, an Educator/Registered member of Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO), and an Educator member of Interior Designers of Canada (IDC).
She has worked with several prominent architecture and interior design firms on commercial projects throughout North America, primarily focused on hospitality, retail, and workplace design. Many projects in Meghan’s portfolio are LEED certified green buildings, providing concentrated experience in sustainable design.
Meghan’s areas of focus and specialty include sustainable design and materials, design for wellness and healthy buildings, and seeking projects with real clients and community partners to bridge theory and practice with experiential learning.

Natalie Rowe is an internationally recognized leader in interior design education; she is a passionate professor dedicated to advancing the field of interior design.  Her work champions a community-driven, collaborative approach – exploring how thoughtful design can create more inclusive, functional and inspiring spaces for all populations.  Natalie champions opportunities that empower students to engage meaningfully with real-world design challenges. She fosters creative inquiry and innovation through a balance of academic rigor and hands-on experience. At the heart of her practice is a commitment to creative exploration, with every project driven by a deep curiosity and belief in design’s transformative potential.

As a researcher, Natalie explores design for long-term care environments, focusing on improving the built environment to enhance the well-being of residents, families and caregivers. Through both scholarship and practice she strives to create inclusive, supportive and human-centered spaces that elevate quality of life and connection.

Natalie is faculty in the Honours Bachelor of Interior Design program at Fanshawe College in London, ON, and is on the Board of Directors for the Retail Design Institute, Canada Chapter.

She holds a Bachelor of Interior Design from the School of Interior Design at Toronto Metropolitan  University, and a Master of Interior Design from the University of Manitoba.

Natalie is the recipient of the Interior Designers of Canada + Milliken Design Research Award (2017), and was awarded Retail Design Institute International, Educator of the Year (2024).

Andrea began her career in custom residential design before moving into corporate and institutional projects with a particular focus on educational environments. She has experience as a project architect working through programming, schematic design, design development, and construction administration. In addition, she has worked as a draftsperson responsible for producing construction documentation, as well as contributing to proposal development. Her past project experience includes the University of Calgary’s large animal surgical suite, St. Anthony’s School in Drumheller, and the request for proposal (RFP) package for Calgary’s Pumphouse Theatre.

Andrea brings her professional credentials, as a registered interior designer with ARIDO and as a LEED-accredited professional, directly into her teaching, where they inform both her perspective and her commitment to sustainable and responsible design.

As an educator, Andrea focuses on expanding students’ understanding of design by encouraging inter- and trans-disciplinary thinking. She guides students to consider projects holistically and to collaborate across design fields to achieve more innovative and integrated outcomes. Her coursework emphasizes real-world application while pushing for extended creative exploration and out-of-the-box problem-solving. Students are encouraged to share their own insights and experiences, deepening not only their understanding of design and the industry, but also their awareness of themselves, their peers, and ultimately the clients they will serve.

Andrea maintains a strong interest in ongoing professional development, engaging in topics such as Passivhaus education and collaborative research that supports both student learning and advancements in industry design processes.

Terry started her career in residential design upon graduating from Georgian College’s Fashion Merchandising program as an interior decorator. She spent the next decade wearing many hats in the residential construction and management industry. Terry then returned to Georgian to further her education in the field and earned a three-year diploma in interior design. This led to a new career focused on residential building design.

During 20 years of designing in the Muskoka region and beyond, Terry has worked on hundreds of projects including cottages, boathouses, bunkies and garages. Although most of her business is in residential design, Terry also works on retail, hospitality and institutional projects. It is this vast experience that she brings to her role at Georgian.

Terry will be using her experience in the industry to assist the upcoming future designers in learning about the residential design field. She hopes to encourage creative and innovative solutions to design problems, challenging students to think beyond the basic residential box. Terry also brings a vast technical background that will help students solve design and construction issues and convert them into viable, extraordinary projects.

Interior design has provided me with a very rewarding, interesting and challenging career. Its ability to shape and direct feeling and meaning into space makes it a compelling and important field of work. Sharing my knowledge with others is another step in helping to advance the profession and the experience people have in interior space. Teaching is transitive and I expect to learn as much as I convey. I hope that my passion for interior design will be shared with our future interior designers!

Anna Stranks is an award-winning design educator, researcher, and Principal of STUDIO A Design Collaborative, a consulting practice specializing in design thinking, sustainable design, and design research for the built environment. Her professional portfolio spans national and international markets, with projects in corporate, large-scale residential, institutional, and healthcare sectors.

A registered member of ARIDO and IDC, Anna has held leadership roles including President of the ARIDO GTA Chapter and served on ARIDO’s Continuing Education Committee, where she contributed to advancing professional development for the design community. In 2006, she represented Canadian practitioners on a North American task force to help expand master’s programs for Interior Designers. She is also a founding team member of the ART x Designers Exhibition (AXD), created to showcase the hidden talents of interior designers. Her expertise has been shared as a guest speaker at IIDEX on LEED (on behalf of the Canada Green Building Council) and on Healthy Environments sponsored by Azure Magazine. She has participated on the RSID Advisory Council as a former President and Chair of Strategic Planning.  Currently, Anna supports ARIDO’s Registered Interior Design Assessment Program (RIDA) for Interior Design registration in Ontario as an assessor.

As an educator, Anna views learning as a non-linear, interdisciplinary journey rooted in environmentally sustainable design, human-centered thought, and inclusive design thinking. She fosters empathy, challenges existing norms, and inspires students to embrace stewardship toward both human and environmental needs. Her teaching emphasizes the integration of thoughtful, well-researched design solutions that generate positive outcomes for the built environment and its occupants.  She has taught as a part-time faculty member at Ryerson School of Interior Design (now MTU), OCAD University’s Environmental Design Department, and currently teaches at Humber Polytechnic.

Passionate about bridging academia and practice, Anna develops real-world projects that connect students with national and international initiatives, cultivating collaboration, innovation, and professional readiness. Her goal is to reinforce students’ commitment to interior design as both a professional discipline and a vehicle for meaningful social and environmental impact.

Jordan Fang, NCIDQ, ARIDO, is a full-time professor at Humber Polytechnic and a practicing interior designer based in Hamilton, Ontario. Jordan teaches design communication, design studio, and building technology, with a focus on how codes and standards shape real-world interiors. In practice, Jordan’s firm, Bauen Design Studio, works on residential projects from concept through finishes and detailing. Current academic interests include process-based learning, building code literacy, and the use of AI and visualization tools to strengthen early design decision-making and student feedback.

Neal Prabhu is a Tenured Associate Professor, Licensed Architect, and Registered Interior Designer, shaping both academia and professional practice. He serves on the board of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario and holds key roles at OCAD University as Program Co-Ordinator, Senator, Board Governor, and committee member for Academic Appeals, Hiring, and Student Awards and Scholarships. Beyond his professional endeavors, Neal is a driving force in youth sports as Vice-President of the Leaside Baseball Association, an Executive Member of the Toronto Baseball Association and co-owner of the Ontario Blue Jays Baseball Club and GRIT Athletics Toronto.

Parantap Bhatt is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Design at OCAD University and an ARIDO Educator Member whose practice bridges architecture, interior design, and experiential learning. With professional experience across Canada, UK, Germany, Middle east and India, his work explores the intersection of craft, technology, and consciousness in shaping sustainable and meaningful spaces. As a designer and educator, Parantap integrates systems thinking and human-centred design to cultivate critical, ethical, and future-ready design practices. Beyond academia, he leads SYNTH, a research and design studio focusing on the convergence of biology, sociology, and technology. His teaching and research are driven by a belief that design can transform not only environments but also the human experience within them.

With over 25 years of experience, Sheri is a Registered Interior Designer and Principal at X-Design Inc. In addition to her professional practice, she brings more than 18 years of expertise as an Interior Design educator, having served in various roles such as Chair, Core Faculty, Head of Studio, and Adjunct Faculty. Sheri has taught a diverse range of courses and developed curriculum aligned with contemporary industry standards. 

Beyond her professional and academic contributions, Sheri is deeply committed to volunteerism. She has held prominent positions, including Provincial President of ARIDO (2018–2019) and ARIDO Southern Ontario Chapter President, along with participating in various committees dedicated to advancing the profession and local arts community.

Arancha González Bernardo (B.Sc.Arch, M.Arch: ETSAC, A Coruña, Spain; BCIN) is a Spanish architect and co-founder of Odami, an award-winning architectural and design firm based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2018, the studio
focuses on residential and commercial projects, supplemented with material experimentation and furniture and object design.

Prior to co-founding Odami, Arancha worked in offices in Spain, Austria, and Canada, collaborating on projects in cities across Europe and North
America. Arancha completed her studies in Architecture at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in La Coruña, Spain

Filiz Klassen, MArch., BArch. is an artist, researcher and professor teaching at Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design since 1997. Her research emphasizes materiality with a focus on adaptability of architecture and interiors that improve built environments’ impact on climate change and waste streams. She has received industry and government funding for her project Malleable Matter: Material Innovations in Architecture (2005-2020) (Research/Creation grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and Integrated Projects Grant from Ontario Arts Council). Professor Klassen exhibits her work and presents at conferences internationally and nationally. Her articles on material innovations leading to climate responsive environments are published in books as well as in other academic and professional journals. 

The TMU School of Interior Design’s Internship Coordinator Joan Shaw instructs students with managing their Interior Design internship experience throughout their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design degree. As a SID alumnus, Joan is wholeheartedly dedicated to student success through navigating their interior design internship with firms; participating in industry events; membership engagement with the Interior Designers of Canada and Association of Registered Interior Designers in Ontario; and developing mentorship through SID events. With a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Interior Design and designing hospitality projects, Joan is effective with navigating complexities of the student internship experience. Interior design experience through internship work includes fabrication; set design; internship within architectural firms and interior design firms globally. Involving industry professionals in Internship program initiated large scale events includes SID’s annual Portfolio Critique and SID Careers Night. Internship experience and events contribute to enriching student’s academic experience and performance.

Jyhling Lee is a Taiwanese-Canadian architect, artist, and educator whose work bridges interior design, architecture, and public art. Committed to exploring the socially enabling role of design in the built environment, she teaches at the School of Interior Design at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Common in her work is the desire to enhance the human experience of a place and to inspire the civic imagination. Through her work in architecture, interior design, public art, and public spacemaking, her interdisciplinary practice, Figureground Studio, focuses on a context specific and integrated design approach to creating experientially enriching inclusive environments. Invested in creating a more equitable creative landscape in Canada, she supports emerging designers and artists through mentorship, teaching, and collaborative initiatives.

Principal and co-founder of large [medium] design office, Nadia Cannataro is a registered member of ARIDO, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a member of the Interior Designers of Canada (IDC). She holds a Bachelor of Interior Design from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU, formerly Ryerson University) and an MFA in Criticism and Curatorial Practice from OCAD University.

With experience across corporate, institutional, retail, and residential interiors, Nadia is a versatile designer who has led and contributed to projects of varying scales both across Canada and internationally. Her approach is rooted in creating dynamic, narrative-rich environments that respond thoughtfully to client needs, brand identity, and site specificity.

In addition to her professional practice, Nadia teaches Interior Design Studio courses at The Creative School at TMU, where she shares her expertise in narrative-driven design, cultural research, and contemporary practice. Her work as an educator reflects her design approach, reinforcing a deep commitment to critical thinking, material exploration, and the social impact of interior environments.

Presently, Elena Korbout is an experienced professional in the interior design field and an Interior Design Instructor at Yorkville University. She holds an MA Design Professional Practice degree from Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University, certified as Autodesk Professional: AutoCAD for Design and Drafting, studied psychology at Yale, and keeps her hands on the pulse of a new era, Human-AI Synergy of education and technology. Her design background includes formal training in sustainability and interior design with emerging technologies. Elena supports a structured but creative approach to interior design and encourages her students to take inventive risks as they explore their design options and possibilities. Her passion is in teaching, extreme sports, reading, and traveling the world. Elena loves horseback riding, playing squash, painting in acrylic, learning new programs, and used to write short stories in her favorite coffee shop.

Kateryna is Registered Interior Designer and educator with a passion for creating spaces that promote health, comfort, and wellbeing. I teach at Yorkville University, where she also earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design before completing her Master’s studies focused on healthy interiors – a theme that continues to guide both her teaching and design work.

Alongside teaching, Kateryna runs her own design practice – Via Spazio, where she helps clients create homes that are both beautiful and restorative. She loves bringing real-world design experiences into the classroom and helping students connect theory with practice, and ultimately, see how thoughtful design can make everyday life better.

Maha holds two degrees from Yorkville University; the first is a bachelor’s degree in interior design and a Graduate Certificate in Education: Teaching and Learning (GCE). She also holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Interior Environments from New York School of Interior Design (NYSID).

Maha brings over 15 years of corporate communications experience and many years of in-the-field experience with some of North America’s top design firms including HOK, Gluckstein, and Design Agency. Working on a diverse array of projects, from hospitality to workplace and commercial, she pushed the boundaries of design in some globally recognized projects with a great focus on sustainable design. Now, she aims to bring her knowledge as Associate Chair of the Bachelor of Interior Design Program at Yorkville University, a return to the familiar roots that gave her the educational foundation she needed to nurture her passion in design.

With her Sustainable Interior Environments Master, alongside her LEED certification her goal is to bridge theory and practical application with sustainable perspectives, engaging with her students over the past few years in discussions about how different sources and materials change spaces. Notably, Maha has not only been a professor at Yorkville University, the former advisor of the YU Sustainability Club, but has also developed a number of courses for the BID program that focus mainly on Sustainable Design Development and making the courses more industry oriented, so students are ready to integrate in the industry right upon graduation.

As an educator, Maha is passionate about fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking among her students by connecting classroom concepts with real-world applications. Her blend of academic rigor and hands-on project-based learning has helped create a safe learning environment that empowers students to take risks, explore new ideas, and to share ideas, so that they can always see design as both an art form and a tool for environmental harmony. Maha believes that teaching should always inspire more curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Maha is currently a committee member of the ARIDO Emerging Professionals Committee. She has previously served on both the ARIDO EDAA Committee and the Communications Committee.

Michele is an award-winning Interior Designer. She works on residential, commercial and hospitality projects. Some of her favourite work includes Terroni Restaurants, Milano Coffee, condo design work for Great Gulf Homes, Menkes Development, Skale Development, Meridian Credit Unit Toronto Office, Holiday Films Offices, Elmwood Spa renovations and countless private Residential work. She is NCIDQ certified and an ARIDO member.

Michele has participated in ARIDO GTA Portfolio Prep, ARIDO Cheat Sheet and Exam Cram The Scoop on Writing the NCIDQ and has had work published in “The Office Idea Book” by RDS Publishing, NY., Scout Magazine, GOODS Vancouver’s Milano Coffee Expands to Downtown Toronto, Blog ARIDO, “Putting WOW and Wellness Together” and presenter during the Interior Design Educator Council (IDEC) Virtual Symposium, 2025.  Michele had the opportunity to complete a Master’s Degree in Design at IED and the University of Barcelona, Spain.

In addition to over 13 years experience in the field, Michele has been teaching in the Bachelor of Interior Design since 2014 at Sheridan College and joined Yorkville University full-time faculty in 2023. She is dedicated to the success of our students and enjoys the programs nurturing and supportive career centric approach. She is pleased to give back to the community and share expertise and industry experience and knowledge!