Katherine Alban O'Donovan

Katherine Alban O’Donovan, received her Master of Arts degree from the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences,’04, where, as an enthusiastic Art History major, she was grateful to receive an excellent education and honored to receive the faculty’s Laurence Leite Award for outstanding work by a second-year student. Katherine also has an MSW from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, (UMSSW), ’81. She served on the UMSSW Board of Advisors for eleven years, chairing the Development Committee, which plays a crucial role in advancing the school’s fundraising and constituent engagement efforts. These are two skills with which she is honored to serve the Dean’s Council and for which she was a recipient of the University of Maryland at Baltimore’s “Catalyst for Excellence” Award. 

Prior to retiring in 2016 to care for elderly family members, Katherine was Director of Development for a Baltimore non- profit. Katherine also served in Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer’s administration and has held roles at Towson University, the Edward A. Myerberg Center, and Seattle-based hospital IT company PHAMIS, (Public Health Automated Medical Information System), where she championed and successfully led the company’s effort to standardize its hospital software 3 applications. She brings over twenty-five years of experience in senior account management, project management, and individual, campaign, and event fundraising, with an understanding of how to achieve successful initiatives in government, and for profit and nonprofit entities. She values data analytics and evidence-based practices. 

Katherine is a tireless advocate for social justice and has served on the Board of House of Ruth, (as the Mayor’s representative), and Paul’s Place, two Baltimore-based human service organizations. She remains committed to bringing the next generation along, wherever they are on their educational journey. A Baltimore native and resident, and, widow of Dr. Charles O’Donovan III, Katherine continues to be care-giver for her mother, now 96 years of age. If you can’t find Katherine, the National Gallery of Art is always a good place to look.