Dr. Ann McElaney-Johnson is the 12th president of Mount Saint Mary’s University, the only women’s university in Los Angeles and one of the most diverse in the nation. She has over 30 years of experience and is recognized as a thought leader for the advancement of women and a champion for innovative teaching and learning. Since her appointment in 2011, Dr. McElaney-Johnson has led and implemented a strategic vision for the University that priorities inclusiveness excellence, wellness and women’s education, preparing students to be global leaders and pursue purpose-filled lives. Dr. McElaney-Johnson has also established Mount Saint Mary’s as a national resource for women’s issues and research with the creation of the Center for the Advancement of Women. Her vision is rooted in the traditions and heritage of the University’s founding Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, as well as the University’s institutional mission.

She serves on several executive boards including: Chair of the Board for the Women’s College Coalition, Member of the Board of the Executive Committee of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), Executive Committee member of the Association of the Colleges of the Sisters of St. Joseph (ACSSJ) and the Board of St. Joseph Center in Los Angeles.

Dr. McElaney-Johnson earned her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MA from Middlebury College, Vermont, and a BA from the College of the Holy Cross, Massachusetts. She speaks nationally and internationally about the importance of women’s colleges and the advancement of women and girls.