Richard Anderson began his term as interim president and chief executive of Six Nations Polytechnic on Jan. 1, 2026, as the Indigenous post-secondary institution moves into a new phase of leadership.
Anderson brings extensive experience from Ontario’s college sector.
He has previously served as a vice-president at Niagara College and St. Lawrence College and most recently held the role of chief operating officer at Six Nations Polytechnic.
His work has focused on student success, mental health supports and the advancement of Indigenous priorities within post-secondary education, areas that remain central to the institution’s mandate.
Anderson is a member of the Tuscarora Nation, Eel Clan. He holds a PhD in higher education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, where his research examined the mission of Ontario colleges and institutional differentiation.
He also earned a master’s degree in social work with a specialization in policy analysis, along with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and psychology from McMaster University.
Six Nations Polytechnic said Anderson’s leadership approach emphasizes academic innovation alongside cultural responsiveness, with a focus on strengthening educational pathways for learners and Indigenous communities.
Anderson succeeds the previous interim leadership and will oversee the institution’s academic and administrative operations during the transition period.
