ABOUT US

For 10 years, Northeastern University’s Women Who Empower initiative has brought together members of Northeastern’s vibrant global community to drive positive change and build a brighter future. Our network comprises strong, aspiring, and distinguished individuals dedicated to fostering inclusive environments, creating lasting connections, and providing meaningful experiences where all people thrive.

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:

Together, we strive to overcome disparities and biases, connect by sharing inspirational stories, and lead 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 MacGillivray City of Boston EXTRAordinary Women

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 diverse and inclusive communities 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. 

Diane is showing how to be a strong, inspiring woman in a leadership position, and how to bring people together from diverse backgrounds and a variety of different experiences to make something different and to build something great. The value she’s given to Northeastern, and to young women, is really unparalleled.

Rose Leopold Sussman, SSH'17

LEADERSHIP MESSAGING

Messages from Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray, Senior Vice President for University Advancement, Northeastern University.