Kathleen Pertzborn

Kathleen Pertzborn is currently the Interim Chief of Staff at Amherst College. Prior to this, they served as the Interim Chief of Staff and Secretary of the College at Mount Holyoke College from January 2021 to December 2021. In this role, they drove action and coordinated the work of the cabinet and senior leadership team, ensured effective alignment of strategic and operational initiatives, led development of a new strategic plan, and served as liaison to the chair of the board of trustees. Kathleen also provided oversight of presidential communications and prepared communications on behalf of the president and the board of trustees.

From January 2016 to December 2019, Kathleen served as Mount Holyoke's Chief of Staff. In this role, they ensured implementation of presidential priorities and initiatives in support of the mission and strategic direction of the college. Kathleen also served on the senior leadership team and as a confidential and strategic thought-partner for the president. Her wide range of executive duties included promoting and supporting the mission of Mount Holyoke College; coordinating presidential commitments and activities, and managing priorities to maximize the president's relationships with stakeholders; developing and overseeing special projects and high-priority initiatives (like launching Mount Holyoke's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative); working with communications and marketing on message strategy, presidential communications and flagship events; serving as liaison to the president and the senior leadership team of the College, and to internal and external constituencies; and overseeing the administrative, operational, and financial affairs of the Office of the President.

Kathleen Pertzborn has a Masters from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a Bachelors with Honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kathleen also has a degree from the University of Cambridge.

Some of their coworkers include David L. Hamilton - Chief Information Officer, Sandy Genelius - Chief Communications Officer, and Matthew L. McGann - Dean of Admission & Financial Aid. Kathleen Pertzborn reports to Michael A. Elliott, President.