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Alumna Award

WWIB Kathleen McDonald Distinguished Alumna Award

Wharton Women in Business (WWIB) is proud to pay tribute to the tremendous life achievements of Ms. Kathleen McDonald, Wharton MBA 1979. WWIB has renamed the Distinguished Alumna Award the WWIB Kathleen McDonald Distinguished Alumna Award in her memory. On behalf of all the women whose lives she touched, we hope that this award will continually celebrate her contributions to the lives of women everywhere.

The Distinguished Alumna Award was created in 1995 to highlight the accomplishments of Wharton alumnae and to build a stronger bond between Wharton alumnae and current students. Recipients of the Award serve as role models for Wharton Women by creating a supportive environment for women in business, achieving professional excellence, and demonstrating a commitment to a balanced career, community involvement, and other personal pursuits.

Kathleen Ethel McDonald was born in Germany in 1948, daughter of Ambassador John W. and Barbara S. McDonald. Ms. McDonald spent her childhood in Turkey, Egypt, Virginia, and Illinois where she graduated from University High School in Urbana in 1966. She graduated from Smith College in 1971 and spent several subsequent years establishing women's shelters and organizing workshops on women's issues.

Ms. McDonald graduated with an MBA from the Wharton School of Business in 1979. A lifetime advocate for women, Ms. McDonald was the original founder of what is now the Graduate Women in Business club, a national organization that brings together female business school students and professionals across the country. She also chaired the first conference held by this club, in May 1978 at the Wharton School which drew 120 women from 38 business schools.

After Wharton, Ms. McDonald joined Exxon Enterprises where she rose to Manager of Organization and Development for the Performances Division and founded the Business Group of Exxon Chemical Company. In the spring of 1988 she received the Exxon President's Award for Community Relations. Ms. McDonald died in a tragic car accident on June 14, 1988 while attending an Exxon-Pararmns-Group conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

In respect to Ms. McDonald's family and in thanks for all of her efforts to establish a supportive business environment for women, Wharton Women in Business is honored to present the Distinguished Alumna Award in memory of Kathleen E. McDonald.