SUDBURY ― Cambrian College’s Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Bill Best has been appointed President of Cambrian College. He will succeed Interim President Sonia Del Missier, effective August 5.

“The Board is pleased to welcome Bill Best to Cambrian College and to the Sudbury community,” said Eric Kohtakangas, Chair of the College’s Board of Governors. “Bill brings a wealth of public and private sector experience to the role. He has a strong academic background, is a seasoned senior administrator, and has sound business acumen. Under his guidance, we are confident that Cambrian will be well-positioned for future growth as we approach our fiftieth year in the Ontario college system.”

Best has worked in higher education for more than 20 years in a variety of progressive leadership roles, including Vice President Finance and Administration, Vice President Academic and Student Development, and Interim President and CEO at New Brunswick Community College in Fredericton.

In accepting his new leadership role at northern Ontario’s largest community college, Best said he was pleased to be joining the team at Cambrian and to be bringing his family to a community that offers a wealth of lifestyle opportunities. “Cambrian’s focus on its students, its strong faculty core and emphasis on innovation is very appealing to me, especially at a time when the College is approaching an important milestone in its history. I am looking forward to engaging the College in a strategic planning process that will lead to evolutionary growth for the organization and the communities that it supports. My key priorities will be to foster a dynamic learning environment, to strengthen our strategic partnerships, and to work with our community partners to contribute to the socio-economic growth of northern Ontario.”

Best takes over from Interim President Sonia Del Missier, who has led the College since September 2013. “Cambrian has been in good hands under Sonia’s guidance, and we are grateful for her commitment to the College and our students,” said Kohtakangas. “Once Bill assumes his new role, she will resume her role as Vice President Academic and will continue to focus on program excellence and student success.”

Best holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University, as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario.

Best is married, and he and his wife Fay, have three children. Together, they enjoy a variety of competitive sports including basketball, volleyball, track and field, rowing and gymnastics. Their downtime is spent enjoying outdoor activities such as waterskiing, dirt biking and ATV riding.