Kathy Gaval, Ed.D.

Kathleen D. Gaval is currently an affiliate faculty member in the Interdisciplinary Doctor of Education Program for Educational Leaders and formerly served as the Vice President for Planning for Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia for the past 15 years. In that role Kathy led strategic and operational planning including integrated academic, diversity, capital, technology and financial plans. Her primary research focus is Presidential Transitions, having served twice as a transition manager and consulted on various aspects of transitions for incoming presidents and their staffs. She is a co-author of the book “Presidential Transitions: It’s not Just the Position; it’s the Transition.”

Kathy holds an MBA with a concentration in Information Systems from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. Her ongoing areas of research include leadership transition, and building leadership teams, and additional interests include Board Governance, Risk Management, data analysis for decision-making, and collaboration through cross-functional work teams.