Elena McDonald, Ed.D.
Why I Joined The Community Foundation
Elena manages Wrap-Around Services that are part of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Program. She is charged with program development and implementation, which involves developing and growing programming, policies, and procedures for the services.
She serves as a success coach for Community Foundation Scholars, building supportive relationships and helping students develop personal education and career plans.
Elena coordinates a calendar of events and workshops for scholars to engage in through webinar and workshop programming and oversees special emergency funds to address barriers that might prevent students from continuing their educational goals.
She works alongside the Scholarship Program team to improve access to scholarship programs, develop relationships with scholars, and promote long-term success for current scholars and alumni through program outreach and retention.
Elena began her career in journalism and marketing, working as an associate producer at WPTV News Channel 5 and as a concierge at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. She also handled communications, marketing, and public relations for the George Snow Scholarship Fund and St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church.
Elena spent the past five and a half years working as the assistant director of student success at Lynn University. As a three-time Lynn University graduate, Elena helped shape what student success means at the university.
She joined the team one month after the school launched the CRM platform Navigate 360. During her tenure, she triaged over 12,000 academic and retention alerts; created various academic enhancement series to support students struggling academically; helped get 13 departments on board to utilize one all-encompassing student success platform; started a first day of school event tradition; and formalized the university withdrawal process.
Elena holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Miami, a Master of Education and Master of Communication from Lynn University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lynn University.
- Registered yoga teacher-200 Hour-Yoga Alliance
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation
- Avid theatergoer
- Adjunct faculty member at Lynn University, teaching the first-year experience course, “Lynn 101”, and communication courses.
