NORTH BAY -- Nipissing University’s new interim President and Vice-Chancellor is officially settling into her role.

Cheryl Sutton, the university's former vice-president of finance and administration, took over the leadership position on July 1, succeeding Dr. Mike DeGagné who has served in the role since 2013. 

The Nipissing University Board of Governors officially announced Sutton’s appointment at the end of March after DeGagné's resignation.

"Cheryl’s leadership experience and intimate knowledge of the university make her the ideal person to lead the institution during these extraordinary times," said the university's board of governors chair Marianne Berube.

"We look forward to working with her over the coming months to continue the momentum the university has experienced over the last number of years."

Sutton joined Nipissing University in 2010 and has served as its vice-president since 2016.

The university calls her an 'accomplished executive' with 25 years of experience as a chartered professional accountant and certified general accountant working in public service.

Sutton also holds the designation of Certified Human Resources Leader. She first joined the university as a Director of Human Resources and Employee Relations, and in 2014, took on the role of Assistant Vice-President, Finance and Human Resources.

"I’m honoured that the board has entrusted me to lead the University through this challenging period," said Sutton in a news release.

"Nipissing has evolved significantly since I joined the institution in 2010, but our student-centred approach to education has been unwavering. I look forward to engaging with our faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and community in this new capacity to ensure we continue to be a university of choice for students into the future."

Before coming to Nipissing, Sutton spent several years at Ontario Northland where her career progressed from Manager of Accounting in 1991 to Vice-President of Passenger Services in 2005. 

She will remain president until the search for the university's next leader is completed. That process is currently underway.