Coughlan named first president of St. Vincent schools

Search committee selects Tom Coughlan first president of St. Vincent de Paul schools.|

Tom Coughlan has been named the first president of St. Vincent de Paul High School and St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School.

President is a new position for the St. Vincent schools. Coughlan will oversee administrative and development at both schools, while day-to-day operation of the schools will continue to be handled by each school’s individual principal.

Coughlan’s selection was made after a search committee comprised of school, parish and community members conducted a thorough search. After screening a dozen applicants, multiple interviews, candidate site visits and community forums, the search committee was impressed with Coughlan’s diverse background in Catholic education and private industry.

Prior to St. Vincent de Paul High School, Tom Coughlan served as Director of Development at De Marillac Academy, a tuition-free Catholic school and graduate support program for low-income families in San Francisco, where his ability to grow the capacity of the development office was integral to the success of the school.

Coughlan also brings with him experience at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, where his primary focus was to cultivate and serve clients.

Among his accomplishments in his former role as Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Justin-Siena High School of Napa, he increased participation in the Alumni Council.

Coughlan’s career began as a teacher and coach at several Bay Area Catholic Schools.

He is completing his M.A. in Catholic Educational Leadership at the University of San Francisco. He holds an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development from the University of Notre Dame, an M.A. in Education from St. Mary’s College and a B.A. in Political Science, with an emphasis in International Relations from UC Santa Barbara. Coughlan also holds a California teaching credential.

Coughlan resides in Sonoma with his wife, Jenna, and his four children - Jackson (11), Quinn (6), Ronan (4) and Noella (2 months). Coughlan and his family are parishioners of St. Francis Solano in Sonoma, where Jackson and Quinn attend school.

In announcing the appointment, Father Gary Lombardi, St. Vincent de Paul pastor, said, “We are confident Mr. Coughlan’s leadership will build upon St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Schools’ strong reputation of academic excellence, its multigenerational commitment to Catholic education and robust community spirit. He comes to us at an exciting time, ready to lead our Catholic schools through transformational and enduring change as they begin their second century of educating young men and women in southern Sonoma County.”

“Our president, Tom Coughlan, has tremendous talent. We have carefully deliberated and unanimously decided he is the person to achieve the mission of our schools,” added Rafael Velez, chairperson for the Board of Regents. “We are confident in his ability to share the benefits of Catholic education with our community. He has the credibility and abilities to guide our schools forward in a thoughtful and strategic way.”

“I am thrilled and privileged to be first president of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Schools,” Coughlan said. “It is truly an honor to be assuming the responsibility for not only one, but two great schools with such rich history and tradition in Sonoma and Marin counties. I am confident that the St. Vincent de Paul community and its schools have a very bright future.”

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