Heather Mcclean
About Heather Mcclean
Heather McClean serves as the Director of Development Operations and Policy at the Obama Foundation, where she has worked since 2017. With a background in law and international studies, she has held various leadership roles in development and policy at notable institutions, including the University of Chicago and Baker & McKenzie.
Current Role at Obama Foundation
Heather McClean serves as the Director of Development Operations and Policy at the Obama Foundation since 2017. In this role, she is responsible for establishing fundraising goals and metrics within the development department. She plays a key role in hiring, onboarding, and training development staff to ensure team effectiveness. Additionally, she focuses on building and sustaining a strong and collaborative team culture, overseeing the management of prospect research, gift processing, and reporting teams as part of the Development Leadership Team.
Previous Experience at University of Chicago
Prior to her current position, Heather McClean held multiple roles at the University of Chicago. She served as Associate Director from 2004 to 2010 and later as Director of Gift Planning, Gift Policy, and Global Engagement Liaison from 2013 to 2017. Her tenure at the University of Chicago spanned a total of ten years, during which she contributed to various initiatives and programs that supported the institution's development efforts.
Early Career at Baker & McKenzie
Heather McClean began her professional career at Baker & McKenzie, where she worked as an Associate from 2001 to 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. This role provided her with foundational experience in the legal field, contributing to her skill set in policy and development operations.
Educational Background
Heather McClean has a diverse educational background. She studied International Studies and French at Vassar College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from 1993 to 1997. She then attended Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where she achieved a Doctor of Jurisprudence from 1998 to 2001. Additionally, she studied at Université Paris - Sorbonne for a year in 1995-1996 and pursued Creative Writing at the University of Chicago from 2013 to 2015.