Anna MacDonald
Summary
Experienced with strategic planning and project management. Utilizes leadership skills to drive team performance and operational excellence. Track record of delivering high-impact results through innovative problem-solving and effective communication.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Outreach and Strategic Partnerships
South Orange County Community College District
Mission Viejo, CA
01.2022 - Current
- Member of the President’s Cabinet, providing strategic leadership and oversight of recruitment through enrollment initiatives
- Spearheaded outreach and strategic partnership efforts that contributed to consecutive annual enrollment growth post-COVID (+2% each year)
- Developed and implemented one of the first community college enrollment coaching programs, designed to mirror the benefits of private university onboarding processes
- Chair of the Strategic Partnership Leadership Group, aligning campus-wide partnership development through collaborative leadership with all management-level stakeholders
- Chair of the Outreach Committee, coordinating cross-departmental efforts to streamline and enhance the college’s outreach activities
- Directed Saddleback College’s inaugural Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Cohort in partnership with the State SEM Academy, leading a cross-functional team to remove onboarding barriers for STEM students
- Cultivated partnerships that contributed to enrollment growth across all academic divisions, increasing Promise Program recruitment and HSI grant outcomes by over 3%
- Lead campus-wide customer service initiatives as the designated manager, implementing a comprehensive, college-wide service training and improvement strategy
- Hired, trained, support and supervise a team of 2 Outreach Assistants, 5 Enrollment Coaches, and 10 Federal Work-Study students engaged in community outreach and student support
- Developed and implemented Saddleback College’s first Call Center, designed to conduct targeted call campaigns that identify and eliminate barriers to student enrollment, and define ROI objectives for whole-college initiatives
- Managed over $7 million in one-time funding that was designed to target whole-college efforts to re-engage students and grow enrollment post-covid
Project Manager (Classified Management)
Orange County Department of Education – College and Career Education
Costa Mesa, CA
04.2017 - 01.2022
- Lead writer for the K16 Collaborative Grant, securing over $14m for Orange County schools
- Composed the Work-based Learning Initiatives for the K16 Collaborative Grant, securing WBL as an officially documented portion of the CA State Plan for CTE
- Designed and implemented four UC-approved Career Education courses: Business Management, Marketing/Sales/Services, Professional Internship, and Educational Leadership (Coaching)
- Expanded business partnerships and tripled student work-based learning opportunities
- Spearheaded CTSO initiatives, industry certifications, curriculum development, and student leadership pathways
- Developed and led comprehensive CTE guidance programs to support graduation and post-secondary readiness
- Coordinated data reporting and analysis for CTE pathway completion and college/career readiness benchmarks
- Planned major stakeholder events including Business Advisory Meetings, Career Fairs, and Dream Big
- Facilitated articulation agreements with local community colleges
- Delivered professional development for educators, counselors, administrators, students, and parents in areas of Artificial Intelligence, Design Thinking Process Management, Career Counseling Coordination in Administration, Data reporting for key grant initiatives, and Classroom management best practices
Manager, Student Services
Coastline ROP
Costa Mesa, CA
10.2015 - 04.2017
- Served on Superintendent’s Cabinet, providing organizational leadership and oversight for CTE student services including partnership development and maintenance with HS administration teams, Student Conduct, and Title IX
- Directed support services across 22 high schools in five partnered districts
- Direct Supervisor (hired, reviewed, directed the work of) 26 College and Career Specialists, one Program Support Specialist, and one Administrative Assistant
- Launched mentorship and orientation programs for new staff
- Led monthly inter-district collaboration meetings
- Partnered with high school counselors on CTE course sequencing and transitional services using platforms such as Naviance and CCGI
- Rebranded organizational marketing materials and communications
- Organized and executed the Distinguished Student Recognition Ceremony, awarding over $30,000 in scholarships
Outreach Specialist / Staff Assistant, Outreach & Public Relations/Foundation
Golden West College – Coast Community College District
Huntington Beach, CA
01.2004 - 10.2015
- Recruited 20,000+ students and reached over 38,000 through annual outreach campaigns
- Planned and executed Senior Preview Day for 7 years, hosting 2,500+ attendees annually in collaboration with departments across the campus
- Partnered with over 20 community agencies, bridging enrollment pipelines for the college
- Developed and executed a student ambassador program, employing 12 student ambassadors
- Directed coordination of all grant-funded outreach efforts
- Produced content for social media, college publications, and the institution’s annual report
- Facilitated over 300 events and tours yearly, including international stakeholder engagements
- Led K–12 collaboration to streamline admissions and outreach processes
- Sat as a key member representing classified staff for student conduct hearings
- Member of the college’s Emergency Management Team
Education
Designated Subjects Teaching Credentials -
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Doctoral Candidate, Educational Leadership, Ed.D. -
University of Massachusetts Global
Aliso Viejo, CA01-2026
Master of Strategic Communications - undefined
National University
La Jolla, CA05-2015
Bachelor of Arts - English
National University
La Jolla, CA05-2013
Associate of Arts - undefined
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA05-2005
Skills
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- Student Centered
- Career Education Initiatives
- Student Service Leadership
- Grant Writing and Implementation Management
Accomplishments
- Doctoral Candidate (Accepted), Educational Leadership, deferred admission (2026)
- Graduate, South Orange County Community College District’s Excel Leadership Academy (2025)
- Graduate, Excel Leadership Academy, South Orange County Community College District (2025)
- Superintendent’s Cabinet Member, Coastline ROP (2015-2017)
- Graduate, Robert Mayer Huntington Beach Leadership Academy (2012)
- Chair, Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce Business & Leadership Awards (2012)
Timeline
Director, Outreach and Strategic Partnerships
South Orange County Community College District
01.2022 - Current
Project Manager (Classified Management)
Orange County Department of Education – College and Career Education
04.2017 - 01.2022
Manager, Student Services
Coastline ROP
10.2015 - 04.2017
Outreach Specialist / Staff Assistant, Outreach & Public Relations/Foundation
Golden West College – Coast Community College District
01.2004 - 10.2015
Master of Strategic Communications - undefined
National University
Bachelor of Arts - English
National University
Associate of Arts - undefined
Orange Coast College
Designated Subjects Teaching Credentials -
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Doctoral Candidate, Educational Leadership, Ed.D. -
University of Massachusetts Global
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
- President’s Cabinet Member, Saddleback College (2022-present)
- Doctoral Candidate (Accepted), Educational Leadership, deferred admission (2026)
- Graduate, South Orange County Community College District’s Excel Leadership Academy (2025)
- Graduate, Excel Leadership Academy, South Orange County Community College District (2025)
- Superintendent’s Cabinet Member, Coastline ROP (2015-2017)
- Graduate, Robert Mayer Huntington Beach Leadership Academy (2012)
- Chair, Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce Business & Leadership Awards (2012)