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.

This award bears the name of Kathleen Ethel McDonald because of her passion for supporting and furthering the role of women in the workplace and in the community. Ms. McDonald was born in Germany in 1949 to Ambassador John W. and Barbara S. McDonald. Ms. McDonald learned to embrace diversity early in life as she lived in Turkey, Egypt, Virginia, and Illinois during her childhood. Ms. McDonald graduated from University High School in Urbana in 1966 and then received her BA in Anthropology from Smith College in 1971. While at Smith, Ms. McDonald embraced opportunities to help others and to break down social barriers—she volunteered for a semester at an elementary school in one of the poorest areas in the United States, and she spent one term at Dartmouth College when it first opened its doors to women.

Following graduation from college, Ms. McDonald spent several years working with other women at the grass-roots level to further social, legal, economic, and political equality for women and minorities. She worked to establish the first women’s shelters in New England and organized numerous 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 (GWIB) 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. Also while at Wharton, Ms. McDonald founded the Wharton Women Alumni Association, which has evolved into Wharton Women in Business.

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. Throughout her career, Ms. McDonald never lost her focus on improving the lives of women and minorities. Her son Sean was born in February 1981, and her personal experience with balancing a career with the responsibilities of motherhood made her an effective spokeswoman for working mothers. Ms. McDonald furthered her outreach efforts through her speaking engagements at numerous conferences around the country. She was a member of the Conference Board Advisory Council on Human Resources Management, and she was an adviser to the Family Resource Coalition in Chicago, now called Family Support America. Family Support America gives a biannual award which bears Ms. McDonald’s name and honors companies that have best implemented her vision for a fair and supportive work environment for women and families.

Ms. McDonald passed away tragically in a car accident on June 14, 1988 during a business trip for Exxon to Lisbon, Portugal. Although her achievements are great, her work remains unfinished. Recipients of the WWIB Kathleen McDonald Distinguished Alumna Award are being recognized for their contributions to achieving Ms. McDonald’s dream. 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.
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