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Leadership

Santa Clara’s top administrators embody and celebrate our values, honor our history and traditions, and engage with the campus community to shape a vision for SCU’s future.

University leadership is comprised of the Board of Trustees, Chancellor, and the President's Cabinet. The Cabinet serves as an advisory board to the President on matters of strategic importance and on issues as requested by the President.

Julie Sullivan

President

Julie Sullivan is a proven leader in Catholic higher education and an internationally recognized scholar in accounting, finance, and taxation. She joined Santa Clara in 2022, previously serving as president of the University of St. Thomas where she has created dynamic academic programs and championed social innovation. Sullivan is the first layperson and woman president in Santa Clara University's history.

 

President's Cabinet
Renee Baumgartner

ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

Renee Baumgartner

Renee Baumgartner, Ph.D., is the Director of Athletics. Reporting directly to the President, Baumgartner oversees the administration of all Division I sports at Santa Clara. 

Alison M. Benders

Vice President for Mission and Ministry

Alison M. Benders

Alison M. Benders, an experienced educator and theologian, is SCU's first vice president for mission and ministry.

Kelly Douglas

General Counsel

Kelly Douglas

Kelly Douglas, General Counsel, is the chief legal officer, responsible for managing and overseeing all legal affairs for the university and serving as the primary legal advisor to the Board of Trustees

T. Shá  Duncan Smith

Vice President for Inclusive Excellence

T. Shá Duncan Smith

T. Shá Duncan Smith, a highly experienced diversity educator and leader, guides and shapes the University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Rafael Espinosa III

Chief Information Officer

Rafael Espinosa III

Rafael Espinosa III, a veteran higher education technology executive, joined Santa Clara University as the chief information officer in November 2023.  

Wilson Garone

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Wilson Garone

Wilson Garone, Vice President for Finance and Administration, provides financial and administrative leadership to support the core activities of the University. 

Ed Grier

Dean, Leavey School of Business

Ed Grier

Ed Grier, a veteran global operations executive and business school leader, is the dean of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business. He previously served as dean of the School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Michael J. Kaufman

Dean, School of Law

Michael J. Kaufman

Michael J. Kaufman is the dean of Santa Clara University's School of Law. Prior to joining SCU, he served as dean of Loyola University Chicago School of Law and as associate dean for academic affairs.

Zenobia Lane

Vice President for Human Resources

Zenobia Lane

Zenobia Lane serves as Vice President for Human Resources. 

Lawrence Lokman

Vice President for University Marketing and Communications

Lawrence Lokman

As Vice President for University Marketing and Communications, Lawrence Lokman has responsibility for all brand, marketing, public relations, social media, and stakeholder communications. 

James Lyons

Vice President for University Relations

James Lyons

James Lyons leads the University’s fundraising, government relations, alumni relations, events and protocol. 

Eva Blanco Masias

Vice President for Enrollment Management

Eva Blanco Masias

Eva Blanco Masias is responsible for setting and leading the strategic direction of all admission and recruitment efforts for first-year and transfer students, including oversight of all technical and marketing initiatives.

Molly A.  McDonald

Chief of Staff

Molly A. McDonald

Molly McDonald serves as chief of staff and advises the president on University matters as well as external matters. 

Kate Morris

Acting Co-Provost

Kate Morris

Kate Morris manages the day-to-day operations of the Office of the Provost and takes the lead on all Provost responsibilities and projects, alongside Acting Co-Provost Ed Ryan.

Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, S.J.

Dean, Jesuit School of Theology

Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, S.J.

An esteemed Jesuit theologian, speaker, and leader, Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J., STL ’98, Hon. ’12, serves as the dean of the Jesuit School of Theology. Prior to his appointment as dean, he was the president of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, responsible for leading the inter-provincial mission of the Society of Jesus in the region. 

Daniel Press

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Daniel Press

Versed in bringing together scholars from disparate disciplines, Daniel Press creates innovative interdisciplinary collaborations among the faculty. His experience in both leading and serving positions him to expand upon the vision of the College and to engage faculty and staff in achieving its goals.

Jeanne Rosenberger

Vice Provost for Student Life

Jeanne Rosenberger

Jeanne Rosenberger provides leadership in developing innovative co-curricular programs and student support services that respond to student needs and campus issues related to student life outside the classroom.

Ed Ryan

Acting Co-Provost

Ed Ryan

Ed Ryan manages the day-to-day operations of the Office of the Provost and takes the lead on all Provost responsibilities and projects, alongside Acting Co-Provost Kate Morris.

Elaine  Scott

Dean, School of Engineering

Elaine Scott

Elaine Scott joined Santa Clara University as dean of the School of Engineering in August 2019. Previously, she was the founding dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) at the University of Washington in Bothell.

Sabrina Zirkel

Dean, School of Education and Counseling Psychology

Sabrina Zirkel

Sabrina Zirkel is a well-established scholar who studies race, ethnicity, gender, and class across all sectors of education. Prior to SCU, she served as Associate Dean in the School of Education at Mills College.