​​​​​Nancy McFadden

Civic Leader/Businesswoman

San José State University

Nancy McFadden has distinguished herself on a national level as a senior legal, political and policy adviser, businesswoman and community leader. The contributions of her distinguished career represent the ideals of the California State University and San José State University.

Ms. McFadden graduated from San José State in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in political science. After attending law school at the University of Virginia, she began her career in private practice and was named "One of the 40 Best Lawyers Under 40" by Washingtonian magazine. Ms. McFadden went on to serve as a senior member of the Clinton administration, where she held three different positions: Deputy Associate Attorney General, General Counsel at the Department of Transportation and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Vice President. She was named one of the "go-to people" in the administration by The Washington Post for her significant record of accomplishments. During her time with PG&E Corporation, Ms. McFadden served as Senior Vice President and Senior Advisor to the Chairman and CEO, and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs. She currently serves as Executive Secretary, aka Chief of Staff, to California Governor Edmund Brown.

Over the years, Ms. McFadden has served on the boards of A Woman's Nation, the California Museum, the Women's Foundation of California, the California Climate Action Registry, the Bay Area Council, the Apollo Alliance, the Council for Environmental and Economic Balance and the San Francisco Fine Arts Museums.

Through her outstanding civic and social leadership, Ms. McFadden epitomizes Spartan pride. In recognition of her distinguished accomplishments and dedication, the California State University Board of Trustees and San José State University are proud to confer upon Nancy McFadden the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.