Dean of Sheridan’s Faculty of Applied Science and Technology joins Board of Directors for Skilled Trades Ontario

Lindsay Engel, Dean of Sheridan’s Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, will provide strong leadership to Skilled Trades Ontario as a newly-appointed member of its Board of Directors.

The Government of Ontario launched Skilled Trades Ontario earlier this year. The new Crown agency will be dedicated to the improvement of skilled trades training and services, with a focus on promoting the trades, and enhancing training and curriculum standards across the province. The goal of the agency’s work is to strengthen the province’s skilled trades workforce as part of Ontario’s pandemic recovery. 

“I am very proud to be a part of an agency that will focus on attracting more young people into the trades, reducing barriers to increase diverse representation in these fields, and engaging more employers in apprenticeships,” said Engel. “The Government of Ontario’s vision for the Skilled Trades closely aligns with Sheridan’s mission to reduce barriers, increase retention, and increase access to the Skilled Trades through our apprenticeship and post-secondary training.” 

Engel has more than a decade of experience in the Ontario postsecondary sector, distinguished by progressively responsible strategic, leadership and management roles in both academic and research settings. Prior to joining Sheridan, she served as Associate Dean of Applied Science and Technology at Fanshawe College, where she helped create a number of pathways programming, and anchored major infrastructure investments. In her role a Research Chair, she built partnerships for research and innovation, leading to significant industry and government investment.

Since joining Sheridan in 2021, Engel has supported the growth of Sheridan’s General Machinist and Industrial Millwright Mechanic pre-apprenticeship programs, and has helped advance a number of applied research and curriculum-based initiatives on green irrigation and renewable energy. Sheridan continues to promote the trades through an annual Skills Sheridan showcase, and celebrates diversity within the skilled trades workforce through annual student-led clubs and events, including the Women in Trades club and Exploring the Trades events. 

The Magna School of Skilled Trades at Sheridan is currently working on funded outreach activities to engage underrepresented members of the community in trades education and programming.