Molly A. McDonald, Chief of Staff at Santa Clara University, serves as a strategic and trusted advisor to the President. Leveraging both a strategic and tactical approach to organizational matters Molly advances the President’s vision and goals while ensuring alignment with the University's Jesuit values. She guides the development, prioritization, and execution of strategic priorities, advances key initiatives, and builds capacity within the executive leadership team. Molly also leads crisis management efforts, oversees executive communications, serves as Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees managing Board relations, engages with internal and external constituencies on behalf of the President, and manages the operations of the Office of the President.
Prior to her current role, Molly served as Assistant Vice President for Human Resources at Santa Clara University, where she focused on strategic planning, employee engagement, and cultivating a collaborative workplace culture. Before joining Santa Clara University, she held leadership roles in the Diocese of Monterey as General Counsel, Chancellor, and Director of Human Resources, where she managed complex legal, personnel, and operational matters.
Molly began her career as a secondary school educator at Archbishop Mitty High School, cultivating her dedication to values-based education and leadership. A passionate advocate for service and community engagement, she has served on the boards of St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose, and St. Christopher School in San Jose.
Molly holds a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law, a teaching credential from San Jose State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University.