ABOUT US
Northeastern’s Women Who Empower initiative welcomes all members of the university’s vibrant global community. Together, we seek to drive positive change and build a brighter future. Our network comprises strong, aspiring, and distinguished individuals who foster inviting environments, create lasting connections, and provide meaningful experiences where every person thrives.
Women Who Empower aims to inspire and enable future generations to be creative, innovative, and agile as they lead change and pursue impact in the fields of their choice. We advance this mission through these key areas:
- Entrepreneurship initiatives, such as our Innovator Awards
- Financial support
- Community, mentorship, and networking
- Events and experiences
Together, we power a better world by strengthening relationships, sharing inspirational stories, and leading change in our communities and beyond. Sign up to receive the latest news from our community, including events, awards, announcements, and more.
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray is Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Northeastern University, where she steers the University Advancement team that works closely with university leadership to develop and execute fundraising strategies that fuel the university’s momentum. After coming to Northeastern, she implemented a strategic restructuring of the fundraising operation from a centralized model to a more effective hybrid structure and oversaw the creation of new initiatives such as the parent giving program, innovative alumni engagement programs, and Women Who Empower—a university-wide initiative grounded in the belief that communities of belonging empower a better world. Women Who Empower advances this mission through its entrepreneurship initiative, scholarships, mentorship, events and more.
Prior to joining Northeastern in 2007, MacGillivray was senior associate dean for Advancement in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). MacGillivray holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s in 19th century British history from USC.
LEADERSHIP MESSAGING
Messages from Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray, Senior Vice President for University Advancement, Northeastern University.
March Musings | March 2024
Strong, humble and inspiring | May 2023
Meet Diane MacGillivray in her Boston garden | September 2020
Aiming higher | October 2015
Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray
Senior Vice President for University Advancement
Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray is Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Northeastern University, where she steers a University Advancement team that works closely with university leadership to execute fundraising strategies that fuel the university’s momentum. MacGillivray oversaw the successful completion of the university’s largest ever campaign in 2017, which raised $1.4 billion, setting a new university record. Under her leadership, annual fundraising has increased from an average of $20 million to an average of $110 million, including securing a gift for the first named college at the university and a $50 million donation for a second named college. Most recently, MacGillivray was instrumental in attaining four $100 million gifts to launch an advanced technology campus in Portland, Maine.
After coming to Northeastern, MacGillivray implemented a strategic restructuring of the fundraising operation from a centralized model to a more effective hybrid structure and oversaw the creation of new initiatives, such as the family philanthropy program and innovative alumni engagement programs. She also created and leads the university-wide Women Who Empower initiative, which is grounded in the belief that communities of belonging empower a better world and advances this mission through its entrepreneurship initiative, scholarships, mentorship, events, and more.
Prior to joining Northeastern in 2007, MacGillivray was senior associate dean for Advancement in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). MacGillivray holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s in 19th century British history from USC.