Margaret A. McKenna has been named the new president of the Wal-Mart Foundation.
McKenna joins Wal-Mart after a career in the public and non-profit sectors, and having recently resigned as the president of Lesley University after more than two decades of service.
"Margaret McKenna has a proven track record in leading organizations to achieve their goals and managing programs that have a positive impact on communities," says Leslie Dach, executive vice president of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations for Wal-Mart. "We are proud of our many accomplishments in the area of corporate giving, and we're ready to take the Wal-Mart Foundation to the next level of effectiveness by strengthening our strategic focus and the impact of our giving. We are confident that Margaret is the person to lead us to achieve this goal."
During her tenure as president of Lesley University, McKenna oversaw the transformation of the institution from a college with 2,000 students to a 12,000-student university with a national presence. The institution has 150 locations in 23 states making it the largest provider of graduate education in the country. Under her leadership, the university's endowment increased from $2 million to more than $90 million, the number of academic facilities doubled, and undergraduate education was transformed with the addition of the Art Institute of Boston and initiation of coeducation.
Prior to her role at Lesley, Margaret served as VP of Radcliffe, Deputy Counsel in the White House and a Civil Rights lawyer in the U.S. Department of Justice. She has served on multiple Boards of Directors for both non-profit and for-profit organizations, and is currently a board member for: the Cisco Learning Institute, Massachusetts Workforce Investment, Teacher Education Accreditation Council, Council on Higher Education Administration, Boston Chamber of Commerce and Dominion Resources, Inc., among others. Margaret is the author of several publications, the most recent in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Public Policy. She is also the recipient of numerous awards and honors from civic, educational and civil rights organizations, and holds seven Honorary Degrees.
Charitable contributions from Wal-Mart enhance opportunities for individuals and families to live better by supporting initiatives in education, economic opportunity, the environment, and health and human services.
"The presence of Wal-Mart stores throughout this country, along with the commitment of the company to philanthropy, creates unparalleled opportunities for significant positive impact in the lives of countless individuals and families," says McKenna.