Following a national search, Siobhán Lawlor has been named the new provincial assistant for advancement and communication for the California and Oregon provinces of the Society of Jesus. Lawlor, whose appointment was jointly announced by California Provincial Fr. Michael Weiler, SJ, and Oregon Provincial Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, comes to the provinces from Woodside Priory School where she served as the director of development since 2012 and prior to that as campaign director from 2005-2012.

"Siobhán wants to help us raise the funds we need so we can continue to care for our elderly Jesuits, to form our growing number of scholastics for mission, and to help us continue to go to those places where the Church most needs us. I'm excited to work with Siobhán to advance the mission of the new Jesuit province of the western United States," said Fr. Santarosa, who will become the provincial of the new U.S. West Province when the California and Oregon provinces come together in July, 2017.

Prior to her service at Woodside, Lawlor worked as an associate at law firms specializing in insurance defense, business litigation, and bankruptcy. She earned her BA in English and philosophy from Boston College and a J.D. and Public Interest Certificate from the Santa Clara University School of Law. In addition, she served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Seattle. She will assume her duties with the provinces on August 8.

“I am honored and excited to begin this mission of advancement for an institution I care deeply about and that has long shaped my worldview,” said Lawlor.

The California and Oregon provinces undertook a national search with the assistance of Campbell & Company, an executive recruiting firm, and a hiring committee chaired by Fr. Eddie Reese, SJ. The hiring committee included David Burcham, Fr. Stephen Privett, SJ, Jim Purcell, Kim Randles, Adria Renke, and Sheila Yrure. The work of the recruiters and the committee resulted in several exceptional candidates being considered for the position.

In announcing Lawlor’s appointment, Frs. Weiler and Santarosa also thanked Chuck Duffy for his generosity of spirit in assuming the role of provincial assistant for advancement for the California Province in March 2015 while maintaining his long-standing position as provincial assistant for advancement for the Oregon Province. Duffy’s leadership helped ensure a successful completion of the California Province’s Generations Capital Campaign which exceeded its $27 million goal and saw all building projects at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos and The Jesuit Novitiate of the Three Companions in Culver City completed. Duffy also oversaw the ongoing, smooth operation of the Oregon Province’s advancement office during this time.