First Female Chairs Board of Trustees

When the Boston College Board of Trustees met for its first meeting of the academic year on Sept. 30, a woman presided as chair for the first time in the University's history.

Kathleen M. McGillycuddy, retired executive vice president of FleetBoston Financial and a 1971 graduate of Newton College of the Sacred Heart (which merged with Boston College in 1975), was elected chairwoman of the Board of Trustees by her fellow board members.

"Given Kathleen's distinguished career in financial services, her generosity as a University benefactor, and her successful contributions to Boston College through programs she helped to found – such as the Council for Women at Boston College – she is an ideal choice to lead the Board of Trustees," said University Spokesman Jack Dunn. "We are honored to have her."

"It's a very proud moment, obviously," McGillycuddy said. "It's a powerful personal accomplishment."

McGillycuddy became a BC trustee in 2002 and has served as vice-chairwoman since 2008. She is also co-chairwoman of the ongoing "Light the World" capital campaign, and founding co-chairwoman and current chairwoman of the Council for Women of Boston College, whose mission is to support women as leaders and influential participants in the University community.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this distinguished board and to work directly with so many talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and students at Boston College," McGillycuddy said in a recent release. "I am committed to doing all that I can to support the continued success of Boston College."

"What I focus on is being the best person for the job and improving upon work that the chairs who came before me have done," she said.

McGillycuddy said the Board plays an invaluable role in maintaining the University's continued success. "I believe our work is more important than ever," she said. "The job of the board is to preserve the success Boston College has had and to see it through to the next 150 years, by continuing to invest in the buildings and moving forward with a well-thought-out strategic plan."

As chair, McGillycuddy said her goals include supporting University leaders, bringing the capital campaign to completion, and continuing to evolve the Board, itself. "I hope to provide the support that University leaders need to meet and achieve their objectives," she said.

"Also, we're in the middle of a very, very critical capital campaign, and one of my goals is to ensure the successful completion of that campaign to be sure the University has the resources to move forward. Further, my predecessors have done a great job to evolve the Board by including an array of different talents, and I want to continue to solidify that collaborate, cohesive group."

McGillycuddy commented on the University's strengths, as well as challenges, as she assumes her new role. "Our strengths include the continued caliber of the student body, the dedication and talent of faculty, focused leadership – Fr. Leahy has been clear in his strategic thinking, but is also great with the day-to-day – our core offering, which is even more relevant today, as it resonates to me in terms of what the world needs," she said. "However, we're not the most wealthy University in the world – we need continued financial support."

A longtime BC benefactor, McGillycuddy and her husband, Ron Logue, established the McGillycuddy-Logue Center for Undergraduate Global Studies in 2008 to promote innovative international learning for undergraduates at BC.

McGillycuddy's career in financial services spanned more than three decades and reached the highest levels of the region's financial institutions. After 18 years at Bank of New England, she joined BankBoston in 1992, leading its Global Markets Division and chairing its Asset/Liability and Capital Committee. Until her retirement in 2002, McGillycuddy served as executive vice president at FleetBoston Financial and head of its Private Clients Group, overseeing more than $50 billion in assets.

McGillycuddy encourages students to develop a lifelong relationship with BC. "Get as much out of your four years here as you can – across the board," she said. "You hear this a lot, but they're the best four years of your life. It's such a rich opportunity for students to build a foundation, build a network and make connections. The BC family is broad, diverse, and powerful. Develop a lifelong relationship with BC."

"The richness of what is here at BC is broad and deep," she said."

She similarly advises falling back on BC connections for career help. "What I always tell my nieces and nephews is that no one's career is planned out in advance," McGillycuddy said. "There are so many unexpected twists and turns. Have patience and take advantage of every opportunity. You may not initially get your ideal job, but stay on the right track and work hard. It won't be perfect, you won't know the direction it's going to take."