Mackintosh Steps Down

The five years Kathryn Harvey Mackintosh ’03 spent as executive director of the Alumnae Association, and then assistant vice president for alumnae relations and global engagement, were eventful. Arriving in July 2019, she thought she had a good handle on what her job would look like. And then the pandemic happened, upending daily life for the whole community. “It just had us rethink everything about engagement,” Mackintosh says. “As we proceeded through a strategic planning process with the College, it became clear that there was real organizational work that needed to be done just to modernize our structure and make us more effective.”

This work culminated on June 30, 2024, when the WCAA integrated into Wellesley College, following a vote by alumnae—86% of the 3,707 WCAA members voting approved the terms of the merger—and a voice ratification at the Annual Meeting of the Alumnae Association on May 25, 2024. The merger is intended to achieve closer alignment of the College, the WCAA, and the alumnae community, and eliminate unnecessary time, expense, and risk associated with the maintenance of a separate legal entity. “This is work that doesn’t necessarily impact the day-to-day experience of most alums, but it’s creating the right structure for the long term,” Mackintosh says.

Over the years, Mackintosh and her team at the WCAA have also introduced a number of other programmatic changes. “You have to make hard decisions about programs that you need to sunset, and let go of some things to be able to introduce others,” she says. This has included intentionally engaging with students and young alums and helping introduce them to the alumnae community. “You’re working with a span of 80 years,” says Mackintosh. “So it’s coming up with the right mix of programs and communications and engagement touch points so that everyone feels like they have an entry point into engaging with Wellesley and with each other.”

In the fall, Mackintosh made the hard decision to step down from her role. “This job takes a lot of brain space and heart space, and I knew it was the right time for me to give a bigger share of that space to other things in my life,” she says. “I feel like it’s time for me to pivot to the next thing and to allow someone else to come in.”

Laura Wood Cantopher ’84, immediate past president of the Alumnae Association, says Mackintosh was excellent at leading the WCAA through a time of change. “When we interviewed Kathryn in 2019, we had a feeling we’d found someone special to lead the WCAA. Her enthusiasm for Wellesley and its alumnae was apparent from our first interaction—and contagious! During her tenure, Kathryn partnered with hundreds of professional and volunteer colleagues, building trust and together identifying complex problems that were holding us back and needed solving,” Cantopher says. “She didn’t shy away from what was difficult; instead, she set about finding ways to make lasting improvements for Wellesley.”

Tara Murphy, vice president of communications, public affairs, and global engagement, adds, “Kathryn and her team were able to achieve great things—like the historic merger of the WCAA and the College—because she brought both strategic vision and a deep love for the College, its mission, and for our alumnae to the challenge. She understands the importance of alumnae for the vision for Wellesley in the world, and her enthusiasm will continue to guide us as we move forward with this work.”

Jen Pollard, Lulu Chow Wang ’66 Associate Provost and Executive Director of Career Education and Experiential Learning, agrees. “Her ability to navigate ongoing change with a positive spirit has been a model for others at the College. The career trajectories of our students and alums benefited tremendously from the interconnected work established between Career Education and the WCAA—work that I know will continue for years to come,” Pollard says.

After Mackintosh’s departure in early December, Leigh Osler Creveling ’00 rejoined the WCAA as interim assistant vice president for alumnae relations and global engagement. Creveling worked at Wellesley as assistant director for classes and reunions from 2001 to 2005. She has spent the last 18 years of her career at Brandeis University, where she served in a variety of roles, including director of alumni relations and assistant vice president for advancement services.