SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Polytechnic has announced the appointment of Mary Vaughan as our new Provost and Vice President, Academic, effective May 19, 2026.
A highly relational and strategic academic leader, Mary brings more than twenty-five years of leadership experience across Canada’s polytechnic and college sector. She brings deep expertise in partnership development, student-centred leadership, and driving institutional transformation – strengths that align directly with our strategic vision as outlined in the Leading the Rise 2026–2030.
President and CEO Larry Rosia said, “I am delighted to welcome Mary Vaughan to Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Mary is an accomplished academic leader who understands the transformative power of polytechnic education. She has a proven track record of building powerful partnerships, centring students in every decision, and leading institutions through bold, thoughtful change. Her leadership will help Saskatchewan Polytechnic continue to rise as one of Canada’s premier institutions for applied education, innovation and workforce development.”
Vaughan joins Saskatchewan Polytechnic from Sheridan College, where she served as Provost and Vice President, Academic. In that role, she led one of the most ambitious academic transformations in the institution’s history, revitalizing 65 percent of its program credentials, developing 45 new workforce-aligned programs, and advancing Sheridan’s applied research to a top national ranking.
Prior to Sheridan, Vaughan served as Senior Vice President, Academic and Student Success at Lambton College, where she led significant academic and institutional growth – expanding the college’s geographic reach, championing new credentials, and leading Lambton to become a Military Connected College. Before Lambton, she served as Dean of the Faculty of Business at Seneca Polytechnic, stewarding one of Canada’s largest business schools and deepening her expertise in connecting applied education to industry and community.
Vaughan spent 18 years with the College of the North Atlantic, leading business and information technology programs across all 17 campuses in Newfoundland and Labrador — experience that gave her a deep appreciation for how colleges transform lives and strengthen communities across an entire province. She also played a pioneering international role in establishing Qatar’s first co-educational technical college through CNA-Qatar, bringing Canadian college expertise to the Gulf region and developing a global perspective on applied learning.
Vaughan is the first Canadian to serve as Chair of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), an international accreditation body representing business education in more than 60 countries. In this role, she has shaped global standards for program quality and brought a distinctly Canadian polytechnic voice to the future of the sector.
On her appointment, Mary Vaughan said, "I am honoured and excited to join Saskatchewan Polytechnic at such a pivotal and energizing moment in its evolution. Saskatchewan Polytechnic plays a critical role in strengthening communities, advancing reconciliation, and preparing students for meaningful careers. I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, students, industry partners, and government to build on this institution's strong foundation and to help lead its continued rise."
Before entering higher education, Vaughan worked as an economic geologist, contributing to mineral exploration projects across Canada and internationally, including work connected to the development of the Voisey's Bay nickel deposit in Labrador – one of the most significant mineral discoveries in the world.
Vaughan holds a Master of Business Administration in Information Technology Management from the University of Leicester; a Bachelor of Education (Post-Secondary) and a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences, both from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is currently completing a PhD in Leadership and Policy at Niagara University
She will officially begin her role as Provost and Vice President, Academic on May 19, 2026.
