Kate McCrae Bristol appointed as Laurier’s vice-president: student affairs

Dec. 1, 2025
For Immediate Release

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Executive Committee of the Board of Governors on behalf of the Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Kate McCrae Bristol as vice-president: student affairs for a five-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

McCrae Bristol has been a key leader at Laurier since joining as dean of students for the Waterloo campus in 2019. In 2022, she became Laurier’s director of athletics and recreation, where she guided the department through a period of modernization and renewal. She played a pivotal role in advancing the multi-phase Seagram Drive Project, including developing a new funding and partnership model with the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union and the Graduate Students’ Association.

McCrae Bristol’s career has been defined by her commitment to strengthening student experience and supports. Before Laurier, she served as manager of student experience – student success at the University of Waterloo, and as a senior development officer: major gifts, building relationships with donors to support student success. Earlier roles include serving as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Yale University, working as the national sport program coordinator for Special Olympics Canada, and serving as director, community engagement at St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation.

McCrae Bristol holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Recreation and Business from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in leadership and crisis management from Norwich University in Vermont.

“I am honoured and energized to step into the role of Vice President, Student Affairs at Laurier,” said McCrae Bristol. “The work happening across our campuses is meaningful, ambitious, and impactful—and it’s driven by remarkable people who show up every day with care, creativity, and a commitment to student success. I’m immensely proud of the momentum we’ve built in Athletics & Recreation, the transformative projects underway, and the community we’ve strengthened together. As I step into this new role, I carry that pride with me and remain excited to champion the work, the impact, and the people that make Laurier so special.”

“Kate’s relational leadership style and her proven ability to engage all members of our Laurier community will ensure that we continue to excel in offering one of the strongest student experiences in the country,” said Deborah MacLatchy, Laurier’s president and vice-chancellor. “I am confident that with Kate’s leadership, Laurier will continue to successfully prioritize academic achievement and personal growth of our undergraduate and graduate students.”

As McCrae Bristol steps into her new role, an interim leadership structure will be established in Laurier’s Athletics and Recreation department as Laurier launches a search for its new director of athletics and recreation in the coming months.