Laurier appoints accomplished academic and administrator as new associate vice-president: academic

June 6, 2022

Wilfrid Laurier University has appointed Patricia (Trish) Genoe McLaren to the inaugural role of associate vice-president: academic.

McLaren currently serves as associate dean of the undergraduate business programs at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. She has a distinguished record of teaching and research at Laurier and is also an accomplished academic administrator. In the role of associate vice-president: academic, McLaren will serve as the principal deputy for the Office of the Provost and Vice-President: Academic in all matters of academic administration, including academic planning, policy, governance, and strategic enrolment management.

“I look forward to working with Dr. McLaren in this new role to build upon and advance the priorities of our university,” said Tony Vannelli, provost and vice-president: academic. “I have no doubt that her outstanding experience and exceptional contributions to Laurier as a university administrator, researcher, and teacher will position us for success in driving the university-wide strategic execution of the academic mission outlined in our Laurier Strategy as we move to an integrated multi-campus university.”

McLaren holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information Science from the University of Guelph, a Master of Applied Science in Management of Technology from the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering, and a doctorate in Management from Saint Mary’s University. She is a member of Laurier's Senate and Board of Governors, president of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, chair-elect of the Academy of Management’s Management History Division, and associate editor of the Journal of Management History.

McLaren was instrumental in the development and administration of the Business Technology Management (BTM) program at Laurier's Brantford campus in her role as program director and area coordinator. She is also a founding member of the BTM Forum, which accredits BTM programs and certifies BTM graduates and professionals.

“Since joining Laurier in 2009, I have had the privilege of working with colleagues and students across the university in multiple faculties, administrative departments, and campuses,” says McLaren. “I am excited to bring my experience, relationships, and passion for Laurier into this new role, and to contribute to Laurier’s success in navigating the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

Over the years, McLaren has been recognized for her many contributions to Laurier with a number of awards, including Laurier’s Merit Award in 2011, Merit Award for Service in 2017, Collaborates for Team and Organizational Success Employee Achievement Award in 2019, and Merit Award for Research in 2020.

As a researcher, McLaren explores the areas of management and organizational history and critical management studies, with a focus on the history of management education and business schools and the development of management thought. McLaren’s teaching portfolio involves technology management courses including enterprise architecture, business strategy, systems analysis and design, technology and innovation management, and project management.

McLaren will formally begin her five-year term in the role of associate vice-president: academic on Aug. 1, 2022.