The David and Lucile Packard Foundation announced they have selected Courtney Chandler as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective April 21. In this role, Chandler will lead the Foundation’s core administrative and operational functions to translate its strategic vision into actionable results. She brings extensive experience in mission-driven organizations, deep operational expertise, and a collaborative leadership style that will help the Foundation continue to deliver meaningful, lasting impact.
Chandler brings more than 15 years of administrative and academic program leadership experience in higher education, where she has led strategy and operations across complex institutions. She has led major initiatives to strengthen financial practices, improve organizational resilience, and support effective governance, while fostering collaboration across departments.
“Courtney is an experienced and inclusive leader who combines operational excellence with a deep commitment to collaboration and transparency. She understands that strong systems and clear communication make our work possible, and she will play an important role in ensuring the Foundation is well-positioned now and into the future.”
Most recently, she served as Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor for Administration at the University of California, Berkeley, where she oversaw strategic operations across ten departments with more than 1,700 employees. In that role, Chandler advanced high-priority initiatives supporting campuswide functions, building collaborative partnerships, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving institutional performance.
Prior to her leadership at Berkeley’s central administration, Chandler held senior roles at the Haas School of Business, including Senior Vice Dean, Chief Strategy and Operating Officer, where she guided strategic priorities and operational excellence across areas such as marketing, human resources, information technology, facilities, digital learning, and MBA career services. She also spearheaded the opening of Haas’s Chou Hall, which achieved certification as the country’s greenest academic building by obtaining LEED Platinum, WELL, and TRUE Zero Waste Certifications, was responsible for all capital projects, and led the development and execution of the school’s strategic plan. Chandler also has a background in corporate finance and investment banking and brings a disciplined financial stewardship and a long-term investment perspective to institutional leadership.
“I’m honored to join the Packard Foundation at such a pivotal moment. I look forward to strengthening the Foundation’s operations in ways that connect our daily work to the mission, foster a collaborative and inclusive culture, steward our legacy, and ensure we use our resources effectively to achieve lasting impact.”
Chandler earned a BA in Economics and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a recipient of the UC Berkeley Excellence in Management Award in 2016 and in 2021.
