Spotlight: Board Member Molly Anderson
“When I was young, dance was a big part of my life. I am grateful for an opportunity to share my love and appreciation for ballet by supporting Neglia. We are very fortunate to have a world class ballet nonprofit investing in and serving our diverse Buffalo community. My son Richard is in his second year of ballet and is learning confidence, discipline and joy! He is excited to have a small role, as a mouse, in his first Nutcracker performance on December 22 and 23. I hope to see you there!”
Molly Anderson serves as executive director of University at Buffalo’s Center for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness (CLOE) in the School of Management. She is former president and CEO of Leadership Niagara where she transformed New York State’s longest running community leadership organization into a nationally award-winning program. She has extensive management and leadership training which began thirty years ago as program director of the American Management Association’s Operation Enterprise program taught by a worldwide faculty of CEOs.
Molly has traveled to 14 countries and recently helped launch a global center for leadership and social innovation in Ghana Africa. Her partnership in Russia, with educators and business leaders, has brought her there twelve times and has spanned two decades.
She has served on over a dozen boards of directors including Neglia Ballet Conservatory, advisory board of African Rights Initiative International, CharitySTRONG, Niagara Area Foundation, and Partners with Russia, Inc.
She is recipient of:
- 2018 Women of Influence Award – Business First of Buffalo
- 2018 African Humanitarian Integrity Award – African Rights Initiative International
- 2017 Women of Distinction Award – Niagara Gazette
- 2017 Joan Wolfgang Woman of Distinction Community Service Award – Niagara Gazette
- 2016 Women in Leadership Award – NYS Women Inc. and WKBW Channel 7
- 2015 Father Joseph Levesque Award for Community Advocacy – Niagara USA Chamber
- 2015 Michael Brundidge Community Service Award – Niagara Falls Business & Professional Association
- 2014 Innovation Award – Association of Leadership Programs
- 2012 Niagara University’s Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education Inductee
Molly attended the University of Buffalo and Houghton College and studied communication and management. She is a graduate of Harvard Business School of Buffalo’s program for nonprofit managers, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County’s board governance program, and FBI Buffalo Citizens Academy.
Molly lives in Buffalo and is a mother to four children – Michael (23), Catherine (18), Oscar (15), and Richard III (8). She is a Nichols School parent and member of the Saturn Club. Her interests include global travel, leadership and the arts.
