TORONTO, January 5, 2026 – The Council of Ontario Universities (COU) welcomes Dr. Deborah MacLatchy, President and Vice-Chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University, as the next Chair of the COU Board of Directors and Dr. Susan Tighe, President and Vice-Chancellor of McMaster University, as the Vice-Chair of the COU Board of Directors effective January 1, 2026, for an 18-month term.
A distinguished biologist with extensive experience in research, teaching and administration, Dr. MacLatchy has served as Laurier’s President since 2017. Previously, she was Dean of Laurier’s Faculty of Science from 2007 to 2009 and served as Provost and Vice-President: Academic from 2009 until 2017.
During her tenure at Laurier as President, she has launched the Laurier Strategy: 2019-2024 and subsequent Laurier Strategic Action Plan, centered on themes of thriving community and future readiness, which have guided the university through growth and innovation. She has also led the expansion of Laurier’s multi-campus model, securing provincial approval for a new Milton campus, which welcomed its first cohort of students in 2024.
Beyond her role at Laurier, Dr. MacLatchy has also served in a number of governance capacities in the post-secondary sector, including sitting on the Universities Canada board, chairing the Ontario University Athletics board, co-chairing the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer board, and serving as vice-chair of the Ontario Research and Education Network board. She holds an Institute of Corporate Directors designation, representing a lifelong commitment to excellence in the boardroom.
Dr. MacLatchy holds an honours BSc from Acadia University and a PhD in zoology from the University of Manitoba. She is a founding fellow and Past Chair of the Science Directors of the Canadian Rivers Institute, and is a Past-President and Council member of the Canadian Society of Zoologists.
She has been recognized for her many achievements with a number of significant awards, including an honorary doctorate from Acadia University in 2016 and the 2015 Recognition Award from the Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada. As well, she was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women for 2012 in a Top 100 list compiled by the Women’s Executive Network.
In her role as Chair of the COU Board of Directors, Dr. MacLatchy will work closely with university leaders, government partners, and sector colleagues across Ontario to advance our shared goal of creating opportunities for students, strengthening the province’s workforce and driving community prosperity.
Dr. Tighe is a senior university administrator and a professor of civil engineering specializing in the development, design, and management of sustainable concrete and asphalt transportation infrastructure. She has been a professional engineer since 1995.
Dr. Tighe began her term as McMaster President and Vice-Chancellor on July 1, 2025, having previously served as McMaster’s Provost and Vice-President Academic from 2020 to 2025. Prior to joining McMaster’s leadership team, she had served as Deputy Provost and Associate Vice-President, Integrated Planning and Budgeting at the University of Waterloo.
Dr. Tighe is a leader in strengthening partnerships with government and industry and has been a strong champion of initiatives to support transformative research, high quality teaching, and outstanding student experience. This has also involved advancing innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship, including the launch of the professor entrepreneur fellowship. She has taken a leading role in advancing inclusion and collaboration across diverse communities at McMaster. She has been a champion in supporting digital learning strategies and the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence to enhance teaching practice, prepare students for the future of work, and enhance university operations.
As Vice-Chair of the COU Board of Directors, Dr. Tighe will continue to offer strong leadership and a clear strategic vision for the sector. Building on her previous role with COU through Ontario Council of Academic Vice-Presidents and stepping into her new role as President of McMaster, she will help drive meaningful collaboration and champion the collective priorities of Ontario’s universities.
As we welcome Dr. MacLatchy and Dr. Tighe into their new roles, COU also extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Rhonda L. Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor of York University, for her steadfast leadership and meaningful contributions as Chair of COU Board of Directors. Throughout her term, Dr. Lenton advanced student success, strengthened Ontario’s research and innovation landscape, and supported community and economic development across the sector.