Dr. Cindy Gouveia installed as Sheridan College’s ninth President and Vice Chancellor 

Dr. Cindy Gouveia was formally installed as Sheridan College’s ninth President and Vice Chancellor Tuesday at The Embassy Grand Convention Centre and Banquet Hall in Brampton. Attendees included Sheridan faculty, staff, students, and Sheridan mascot, Bruno. Special invited guests included representatives from the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, municipal leaders, community partners and Presidents from a number of other Ontario colleges.

As Ontario colleges continue to operate in a complex and evolving landscape, Dr. Gouveia’s installation reaffirmed confidence in Sheridan's ability to meet the needs of the future — with the values of creativity, collaboration, and innovation that are core to the college.

“Our shared purpose is to open doors — to welcome every learner who walks through them, no matter where they come from, no matter how uncertain the path ahead may feel.”

– Dr. Cindy Gouveia, Sheridan President and Vice Chancellor

In her installation address, Dr. Gouveia — an immigrant who completed her college education as a single mother before pursuing an MBA and a PhD — spoke about the necessity of ensuring access to postsecondary education, her non-traditional path to the presidency, and the shared purpose that will guide her leadership at Sheridan.

“Our shared purpose is to open doors – to welcome every learner who walks through them, no matter where they come from, no matter how uncertain the path ahead may feel," Dr. Gouveia said. "To be the place that says: you belong here, and what you bring matters. And to be the vehicle through which potential is realized, confidence is built, and dreams are given a real chance to become reality.”

Dr. Gouveia has devoted her career to expanding and protecting access to education. Prior to her role at Sheridan, she served as Vice-President, Global Strategic Partnerships & Advancement at George Brown College, where she also presided over the George Brown College Foundation. In these roles, she led record-breaking campaigns raising tens of millions of dollars in scholarships and bursaries for students, created new pathways for under-represented learners, and strengthened ties among education, industry, and community.

Mary E. Hofstetter, Chair of Sheridan’s Board of Governors, emphasized her confidence in Dr. Gouveia’s ability to lead the college through change and transformation. “The future will not follow straight lines. And neither has Dr. Gouveia. She is a true advocate and champion for the college sector. Her commitment to access is rooted in lived experience. Her belief in student needs isn’t theoretical – it’s personal. She understands what it means for a college to open a door, and she leads with that understanding every day,” she said.

“(Dr. Gouveia's) commitment to access is rooted in lived experience. Her belief in student needs isn't theoretical — it's personal. She understands what it means for a college to open a door, and she leads with that understanding every day.”

– Mary E. Hofstetter, Chair of Sheridan's Board of Governors

The installation ceremony also included remarks from the Honourable Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.

“Ontario’s world-class colleges play an integral role in protecting and strengthening the province’s workforce and global competitiveness. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Cindy Gouveia to ensure that students at Sheridan College are equipped with the skills they need to meaningfully contribute to the economy and drive Ontario’s key sectors to new heights,” said Minister Quinn.

We stand at a defining crossroads for higher education and for our broader society. The challenges of our time require more than just adaptation; they demand bold, uncompromising leadership. This is Sheridan’s moment to rise. Under this new leadership, Sheridan will not merely react to the future, it will meet it head-on, harnessing creativity and a shared purpose to forge a brighter, more resilient path forward for students and the broader community.

The installation event concluded with a lion dance performance by the Sunny Tang Performance Troupe – Wushu Storm. The ceremony also featured a musical performance of “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters by Sheridan alumni Ariana Bonifaz and Emma Reynolds, and ceremonial piping by Sheridan employee Ian Colquhoun. Two of Dr. Gouveia’s professors from the University of Toronto, Dr. Katherine Janzen and the Honourable Marvin Zuker, spoke about Dr. Gouveia’s unique pathway and the power of pursuing goals without limits.

Dr. Gouveia's installation preceded the first of seven Sheridan College Convocation ceremonies happening this week, which saw over 3,800 students graduate from their programs.

Watch or read Dr. Gouveia's installation address, and view more photos from the installation ceremony.