Molly McDonald serves as Chief of Staff to the President with an executive portfolio that includes advising the President on strategic as well as operational matters, representing the President with internal and external constituencies, collaborating with senior leaders and shared governance bodies on University initiatives and policies, overseeing the strategic planning of the Department of Human Resources, and managing the President’s Office. She serves as Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees, liaison to the Board of Trustees, and a member of the President’s Cabinet.
Molly assumed the role of Chief of Staff in 2011, after having served as Assistant Vice President for Human Resources at Santa Clara for 7 ½ years. Prior to joining Santa Clara, she held the positions of General Counsel, Chancellor, and Director of Human Resources for the Diocese of Monterey.
Molly has served on the Board of Directors at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, CA, and as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose. She also served as Chair and member of the St. Christopher School Advisory Board. She received a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University.