Improving the use and accessibility of information can have a profound impact on policy, decisionmaking, and, ultimately, people’s lives.
As Vice President, Finance and Administration, Molly provides strategic leadership across the financial and operational areas of the organization and is directly responsible for functions relating to the business, financial, operations, and outcomes of DQC and ensures that the business aspects of the organization are aligned with DQC’s vision, mission, strategic plan, goals, and objectives.
Before joining DQC, Molly most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). In that role, she directly led the areas of budget and financial analysis, accounting/controller, treasury, construction and facilities, and internal audit and served as a key leader with stakeholders in ongoing efforts to enhance the System’s long-term financial sustainability. Prior to PASSHE, Molly served over eight years at Slippery Rock University (SRU), where she progressively assumed financial leadership positions, culminating in the role of Chief Financial Officer. At SRU, she was instrumental in the university’s significant transformation into one of the top-performing and financially robust institutions within the state system.
With a background spanning two decades in various financial roles, Molly spent approximately 15 years in the corporate sector prior to her time in higher education. Notably, she served as the global director of Internal Audit and Controls at Westinghouse Electric Co., where she expanded the role of Internal Audit, improved compliance under the Sarbanes Oxley Act, and launched an Enterprise Risk Management program.
A Certified Public Accountant for over 20 years, Molly holds both a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s of Business Administration from The Pennsylvania State University. Molly resides in the greater Pittsburgh region with her husband and two children. Molly contributes to her profession and community in various capacities, including as a board member of her local Rotary International Club. She also enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time in nature and with family and friends.
Why do you do this work? Having spent years in higher education in a system whose mission is to serve first-generation and low-income students, I appreciate firsthand the obstacles that can exist for certain students to even reach this stage of their education, let alone to succeed. I am passionate about the role that more robust data and greater access to that data can have in shaping our decisions, supports, and interventions, leading to greater outcomes for all.
Tell us a data use story that you love. I love to take complex data and make it understandable and fun. In my last role, our team developed high-impact dashboards for our leadership and the board that provided clarity on very complex information. It completely changed the conversations and actions around our financial health and many stakeholders voiced that they finally understood this complicated financial information.
What’s your superpower? Collaborating and connecting with people. I am known for breaking down silos that may have existed between groups and bringing them together to work toward a common goal.
