Dr. Craig Stephenson was appointed President and CEO of Centennial College in 2019, drawn to lead Ontario's first public college by its founding purpose – opening doors to opportunity for students in Scarborough and beyond.
His career spans two continents, three countries, and seven higher education settings – including 18 years at Centennial, where he joined in 2008 as Dean of Students and later served as Vice-President, Student and Community Engagement. One thing never changed: a focus on the student experience, and a belief that colleagues do their best work when invited to bring their own ideas.
Then came COVID-19. Craig led Centennial's response – protecting students and employees, developing 43 online programs and 21 micro-credentials for a fast-changing labour market, and partnering with the Scarborough Health Network to open the community’s largest vaccine distribution centre at Progress Campus. It sharpened a conviction: Centennial needed to evolve deliberately, not just react.
Today, that conviction shapes the College’s 2025-30 Strategic Plan – encompassing five priorities, a disciplined path back to financial balance, and one goal: academic excellence today, career success tomorrow, global leadership for life.
Under his leadership, Centennial has deepened its focus on workforce development and applied learning, strengthened industry and community partnerships, and expanded scholarships and work-integrated learning. Craig has also championed the College's work on anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and Truth and Reconciliation, making equity a defining priority of his presidency.
This work has earned Centennial recognition among the GTA's Top Employers, Forbes’ Best Employers in Canada, and Canada’s Greenest Employers. Craig is the recipient of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pin and King Charles III Coronation Medal – honours reflecting a career built on public service and a longstanding commitment to Scarborough. With his trademark passion for all things student, Craig remains committed to building a strong future for Centennial – “a gem of an institution” – and for the students and communities it serves.