Dear Centennial College community,
I am delighted to announce that the Board of Governors has unanimously decided to renew Dr. Craig Stephenson’s contract as President and CEO of Centennial College, ensuring his ongoing and outstanding leadership of our institution.
President Stephenson joined Centennial 16 years ago as Dean of Students, became Vice President of Student and Community Engagement in 2014, and assumed the presidency in August 2019. During his tenure as President, Centennial has continued to transform and thrive and he has profoundly enriched the lives of our students, employees, and community members while successfully navigating remarkably challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical turmoil.
President Stephenson has delivered on our 2021-2025 Academic Plan: Building Leaders and Changemakers, with notable achievements including:
- Enhancing the learner experience: President Stephenson has focused on customer service and tirelessly championed initiatives and innovations to transform and tailor academic delivery and services, resulting in substantial growth in student scholarships, bursaries, grants, donations, and work-integrated learning. The re-positioning of the Student Experience and Success Division now ensures a clear focus on who matters most - our students.
- Fostering faculty and staff well-being: His dedication to open dialogue, unique perspectives, and the well-being of our faculty and staff has led to Centennial being listed on Forbes’ list of Canada's Best Employers 2025, Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for three consecutive years, and Canada’s Greenest Employers, 2024.
- Promoting inclusivity, equity, and sustainability: President Stephenson's unwavering commitment to inclusive, equity-based practices and empowerment has been crucial in addressing anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and promoting Truth and Reconciliation. Significant progress has been made on our Anti-Black Racism Taskforce deliverables and Indigenous Strategic Framework, fostering a culture of opportunity, fairness, reconciliation, and equitable access. The newly constructed A-Building at Progress Campus, Canada’s first zero-carbon, mass timber, LEED Gold higher education building, showcases the College’s commitment to sustainability and Indigenous education.
The Board of Governors has full confidence in President Stephenson’s visionary leadership and strategic direction. Our unanimous decision reflects our belief in his ability to continue fostering excellence, innovation, and empowerment at Centennial, and underscores our commitment to maintaining stability and momentum as we advance our mission.
Looking ahead, we are excited about Centennial’s future under President Stephenson’s continued leadership. His focus on launching and executing our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, which is currently being developed, will enable our students, employees, and community to further flourish. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to President Stephenson for his dedication and tireless efforts. Please join us in congratulating President Stephenson and supporting him as we embark on this exciting next chapter for Centennial.
Sincerely,
Susan Caldwell
Chair, Board of Governors
Centennial College