Look who announced his retirement

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT COLLEGE

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Sault College president to retire next fall

SAULT COLLEGE - After leading Sault College for six exciting years, President Dr. Ronald Common announced his retirement at the last Board of Governor’s meeting, effective December 31, 2013.

Common, who became the fifth president of the community college during the Fall of 2007, said he was leaving Sault College to spend more time with his family.

“I leave Sault College with much admiration for our staff, faculty, administrators and board of governors. I am grateful to everyone in our community for their kindness and support they have showed me throughout my tenure. The Sault College story is one that begins with hope and embodies academic excellence at every turn, I thank you for this experience.”

During his tenure, Common focused on educational issues related to Aboriginal groups, working extensively with Aboriginal communities throughout Canada and signing several Memorandums of Understanding with Aboriginal groups.

Under his watch, overall student enrolment has grown by an impressive 32 percent.

Furthermore, infrastructure improvements included a 75,000 square foot academic wing (Essar Hall), a new aviation hangar/repair facility, the Algoma Public Health project, a Nurse Practitioner’s clinic, and Extendicare - a 256 bed long term care home.

While most College presidents would be satisfied with over $48.4 million in capital projects, this summer, the College held a ground-breaking ceremony for its new Student Health and Wellness Facility scheduled for completion in Fall 2013.

This unprecedented campus renewal has been made possible through Dr.Common’s ability to work with government to secure funding for Sault College.

He has further launched an aggressive campaign to support infrastructure and program renewal with the Inspiring Growth Campaign.

“With the support of government, partners and our community we have been able to infuse advanced approaches, innovation and academic excellence across our campus and into our curriculum to provide top-notch education to deserving students and employers who look to us to lead the way,” added Common.

The Board of Governors accepted Dr. Common’s announcement, with deep appreciation for all he has done.

Dr. Gina Mohammed, Chair of Sault College’s board of governors praised Dr. Common for his accomplishments.

“Dr. Common has been a gifted and inspiring leader for Sault College,” she said. “His emphasis on student support and success, his encouragement of new ideas and innovation, and his stewardship of College resources have given Sault College both a vision for the 21st Century and a solid foundation to build upon. He has led with integrity and respect for others, setting a standard of excellence that has been a privilege to watch. We’re grateful for his time with us, and we will indeed miss him.”

With his retirement, Dr. Common leaves a forty-five year career in the field of education.

He has served as a teacher, principal, professor, dean and administrator in roles that have spanned several decades.

His respect for the profession has fuelled his relentless passion for the pursuit of bettering the field that both informs and inspires minds of the future.

Sault College would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Ron Common for his years with Sault College.

He leaves behind a very healthy organization.

A man of vision, inspiration and determination, he has worked tirelessly and successfully for the College and for the community in every initiative he undertook.

Thank you, Ron, for all you have done.

The selection process of a new president will begin immediately.

About Dr. Ron Common

Prior to joining Sault College, Dr. Common was Dean of Education at Nipissing University for seven years.

He has been a university administrator for 12 years at Nipissing, Brandon and Memorial Universities, and has held positions at Queen’s University, Brock University, Memorial University, Brandon University and Nipissing University as a Professor of Education Administration. 

A multi-degree graduate, Dr. Common received a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and Master of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Common earned his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Ottawa in 1980.

He holds a private pilot’s license and flies his own aircraft throughout Canada.

His research interests include educational issues related to Aboriginal groups, managing organizational change within educational organizations and international development.

Dr. Common has worked extensively with Aboriginal communities throughout Canada, creating First Nations school systems and, on occasion, helping to build schools.

He has worked on international development projects in Malawi, Cameroon, Kenya, China and Jordan for the past decade.

He was recently inducted into the Nipissing Human Rights Hall of Fame for his work with First Nations and disadvantaged people around the world.

Dr. Common is married to Dr. Lorraine Frost, an education faculty member at Nipissing University in North Bay.

They have two daughters; Lauren and MacKenzie.

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