Mary Alice McNeil

Mary Alice McNeil is a Professor at Saint Mary's College of California, School of Economics and Business Administration, where she has served as faculty since 1992. She teaches Leadership and Management Communications across graduate business programs (PMBA, EMBA, GEMBA) and serves as Business Administration Program Director for undergraduates. Her teaching focuses on developing students' abilities to become confident, strategic communicators in contemporary workplace environments.

McNeil earned her BA in Rhetoric and Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, her MA in Higher Education Administration from the University of Michigan, and a Certificate in Human Resource Management and Labor Relations from the University of Michigan.

Professor McNeil's professional expertise centers on addressing modern managerial communication challenges including stakeholder engagement, inclusive team development, client relationship strengthening, and authentic leadership cultivation in socially distanced contexts. With over 30 years of professional achievement spanning consulting, management training, and administration, she brings substantial real-world experience to her academic work, bridging theoretical frameworks with practical business applications through her mission to 'communicate, engage and inspire professionals to achieve their full potential.'

Her contributions to academic excellence have been formally recognized through:

• Outstanding Teaching Award (2015)
• Outstanding Service Award (2018)

Beyond her academic responsibilities, Professor McNeil operates McNeil Training Strategies, where she designs customized training materials to enhance managerial communication and leadership capabilities. Her consultancy work has served major organizations including Patelco Credit Union, East Bay Regional Parks District, PG&E, Chevron, California Tissue Donor Network, Kovarus, VISA International, Landor Associates, and the Association of Junior Leagues, Int'l. She has presented her work extensively throughout the United States and conducted international training in Hong Kong, Mexico City, and Europe.

Prior to her current position, Professor McNeil held management roles at Williams Sonoma, Inc., Bank of America, and Sullivan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and maintained academic appointments at John F. Kennedy University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Michigan.