Senior Leadership

President

Dr. Deborah MacLatchy, President and Vice-Chancellor

Deborah MacLatchy was appointed president and vice-chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University on July 1, 2017. In this role, she is responsible for the overall academic and administrative operation and strategic direction of the university, and is accountable to Wilfrid Laurier University’s Board of Governors.

Executive Leadership Team

The Executive Leadership Team, in service to Laurier and its intersecting communities, enables the identification, development and execution of strategies and programs to advance Laurier's vision, mission and values.

Heidi Northwood, Provost and Vice-President: Academic

Heidi Northwood is the provost and vice-president, academic. In her role, she focuses on multi-campus strategic initiatives that enhance student learning and development, foster equity, diversity, inclusion, and internationalization, and integrate Laurier's academic/curricular agenda with the co-curricular elements of student learning, development, and engagement. Prior to stepping into the provost role, Northwood served as the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) of Laurier’s Brantford campus and SEO Global Strategy. Northwood joined Laurier in 2014 as the inaugural dean of Liberal Arts, and previously served as the director of Integrative Programs and the Core Curriculum at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY and a professor in the philosophy department. In addition to teaching and working in the area of Ancient Greek philosophy and science, she led the development of a new core curriculum, experiential learning opportunities and assessment structures, and twice co-led the College's self-studies and external accreditation. Northwood received her bachelors and master’s degrees in philosophy from Western University and her PhD in philosophy from the University of Alberta.

Pam Cant, Chief Human Resources and Equity Officer and Interim Vice-President: Finance and Administration

Pamela Cant was appointed as the chief human resources and equity officer and part of Laurier’s executive leadership team in November 2019. Prior to this, she was the associate vice-president: human resources and equity at Wilfrid Laurier University for seven years and previously held the role of Director: Total Compensation. She has worked in academia and in the field of Human Resources for over 20 years. Cant has an honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Master of Human Resources Management degree from York University. She is also a graduate of the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE) program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Cant has served as the Chair of the University Health Insurance Plan Steering Committee and the Chair of the Council of Senior Human Resources Officers for Ontario universities. She is an instructor in the HR program in the department of Continuing Education at McMaster University.

Jason Coolman, Vice-President: Advancement and External Relations

Jason Coolman leads the university’s advancement and external relations initiatives, furthering Laurier’s efforts as a multi-campus university with deep community connections. He provides direction and support for Laurier’s overall donor and alumni relations, communications, marketing and government relations strategies. Before joining the Laurier executive leadership team in 2019, Coolman served as the associate vice-president: development and alumni relations at the University of Waterloo. He is an active member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), serving as treasurer for the District II Board of Directors, and a member of the alumni metrics task force and CASE reporting standards working group. In 2011, Coolman’s professional accomplishments earned him the Rising Star award from CASE District II and in 2016 he received the CASE Crystal Apple award for outstanding teaching.

David McMurray, interim Vice-President: Student Affairs

David McMurray was appointed as Laurier’s interim vice-president: student affairs in February 2024. McMurray previously served as Laurier’s vice-president: student affairs from 2010 until his retirement in 2020. McMurray joined Laurier in 1997 as assistant vice-president: student services/dean of students. He is known widely as a leader in student affairs and is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for excellence in higher education, administration and student services. In 2022 McMurray was presented with the Order of Wilfrid Laurier University as an ambassador of exemplary service to the Laurier Community and beyond. McMurray has extensive experience as a consultant through his business Thinking 360, providing expertise to universities across Canada in areas such as strategic planning, policy and governance, organizational design, experiential learning and career development, student wellness and mental health, student housing, and athletics. McMurray holds an Honours Bachelor of Human Kinetics, and Master of Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor.

Jonathan Newman, Vice-President: Research

As Laurier’s vice-president: research, Jonathan Newman leads the Office of Research Services, providing vision, strategy and support for the university’s overall research endeavours. His leadership and expertise in the fields of grassland ecology, climate change biology and environmental ethics contribute toward Laurier’s strategic research growth. In addition to his role on the executive leadership team, Newman holds a faculty position in Laurier’s Department of Biology. Newman served as the dean of the College of Biological Science at the University of Guelph from 2015 to 2019, and held previous roles as a faculty member in the Zoology Department at the University of Oxford and a fellow of St. Peter’s College. He has received many awards and honours in his career, including being named a fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in London, UK.

Zeynep Danis, Assistant Vice-President: Financial Resources and Interim Chief Financial Officer

Zeynep Danis was appointed interim chief financial officer (CFO) in June 2025. Since joining Laurier in 2021, Danis has served as assistant vice-president, financial resources, responsible for financial services, management and reporting. Danis is a Chartered Professional/Management Accountant (CPA/CMA) with an MBA from Queen’s University and an honours BSc from the University of Waterloo. At Laurier, she has been actively involved in a number of collaborative committees, including the Laurier-Brantford YMCA Joint Owners Committee, Milton Executive Committee, and the Seagram Redevelopment Committee, in addition to chairing the Enterprise Risk Management and Non-Tuition Fee Protocol Committees, and providing leadership support to the Budget and Digital Executive Councils. Danis has more than 20 years of financial experience, including numerous years of leadership in the public sector. Prior to Laurier, she held an executive financial leadership role at Ontario Health.