Mary Pat Donoghue serves as Associate General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), where she supports the Conference’s mission and strategic initiatives in service to the bishops of the United States. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat of Catholic Education, providing national leadership for Catholic schools, higher education, campus ministry, and educational policy.
A lifelong educator, Donoghue has devoted more than three decades to the renewal and advancement of Catholic education. She began her career as a teacher and later served as vice principal and principal of St. Jerome Academy in Hyattsville, Maryland, where she led the transformation of a struggling parish school into a flourishing institution grounded in the Catholic liberal arts tradition. Her success at St. Jerome helped inspire Catholic school renewal efforts across the country.
Before joining the USCCB, Donoghue served as Director of School Services for the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, consulting with dioceses, pastors, principals, and educators nationwide to strengthen Catholic identity and academic excellence in schools.
Recognized as a respected leader and advocate for Catholic education, Donoghue is known for her commitment to forming young people in faith, wisdom, and virtue while helping Catholic schools remain vibrant and mission-driven in a rapidly changing culture.