Palo Alto University Leadership
Maureen O'Connor, PhD, JD, President
Maureen O’Connor, PhD, JD is the president of Palo Alto University (PAU) which specializes in Behavioral Health disciplines. Prior to joining PAU, Dr. O’Connor held multiple roles at the City University of New York (CUNY) in New York City over a period of 18 years.
Dr. O’Connor completed a PhD and J.D. in a dual degree program in psychology, law, and policy at the University of Arizona and clerked for the late Honorable Patricia Wald, then Chief Judge of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals prior to launching her academic career.
An American Psychological Association (APA) Fellow, she has held numerous governance roles in APA, including as Chair of its Task Force on Human Rights. She has been active in the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI/APA Division 9) for many years, including serving as its President. Recent work focused on evidence-based pedagogy development for doctoral students, and on innovative mentoring strategies. Her 2019 book, Teaching Psychology: An Evidence-Based Approach (2019), with co-authors Drs. Jill Grose-Fifer and Patricia Brooks, was published by Wiley Press.
She is a member of the 39th class of the American Leadership Fellows program in Silicon Valley and serves on the Executive Committee of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
Dr. O’Connor believes in a distributed leadership model- where leadership is not just a position, but a shared responsibility that empowers all to thrive and contribute.The foundation of distributed leadership and inclusive excellence is at the heart of PAU's strategic plan, reflecting her commitment to fostering a collaborative and diverse environment.
Highlighting her dedication to the principles of effective leadership, Dr. O’Connor recently shared her insights on the "To Lead is Human" podcast in an episode titled "Sharing Leadership."
"Building a strong leadership team is about finding talented and entrepreneurial thinkers and creating a harmonious symphony of diverse talents and perspectives. I am incredibly proud of the inclusive excellence that underpins our strategic plan and the collaborative spirit of our leadership approach." - Maureen O’Connor, PhD, JD
Sharon J. Washington, PhD, Interim Provost & Vice President, Academic & Student Affairs
Sharon J. Washington, PhD, is the Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Palo Alto University. Dr. Washington brings over three decades of experience in non-profit and higher education leadership, K-12 education, not-for-profit boards, and the arts. She is known for her commitment to fostering inclusive work and learning communities that advance equity and opportunity.
Dr. Washington has served as a trusted consultant to PAU leadership for over eight years, offering strategic guidance and support on a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing institutional effectiveness and advancing the University’s mission. Prior to joining PAU as Interim Provost, Dr. Washington served as Interim Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Mills College in Oakland, California. During her tenure, she led the implementation of a new core curriculum, transitioned the College to the Carnegie credit system, negotiated a collective bargaining agreement for adjunct faculty, streamlined the curriculum to enhance access and flexibility, and launched new academic programs. From 2008 to 2013, Dr. Washington served as Executive Director of the National Writing Project, a national professional learning network of nearly 200 university-based sites focused on improving writing instruction at all levels. Under her leadership, the organization secured over $105 million from federal, foundation, corporate, and individual donors.
A hallmark of Dr. Washington’s leadership is her dedication to developing cohesive teams and building leadership capacity at every level of an organization. She has held numerous leadership roles, including Provost and Professor of Education at Spelman College in Atlanta; Special Assistant to the President for Diversity Initiatives at Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina; and Interim Director of Faculty Equity Programs at the University of California Office of the President in Oakland. Throughout her career, Dr. Washington has championed high-quality instruction and professional development for educators across the K-16 spectrum. As the Founding Director of Project SPIRIT at Springfield College in Massachusetts, she led efforts to increase student retention and graduation rates among Black and Latino/a pre-service teachers, established a teacher mentorship program, and developed a collaborative academic enrichment partnership with a community college, a large urban school district, and a local college to encourage high school students of color to pursue post-secondary education.
Her early career was rooted in experiential education, collaborating with classroom teachers to design hands-on learning experiences. Dr. Washington has served as a tenured faculty member at both Kent State University and Springfield College, and as a visiting faculty member at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont. She was also a Visiting Scholar in the Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focusing on higher education administration.
Dr. Washington holds a PhD in Education and a BS from The Ohio State University and an MA from Central Michigan University. Her scholarly work centers on social justice education, with recent writings addressing multicultural alliances and the challenges of teaching social justice topics. Dr. Washington believes that leadership is a collective journey grounded in collaboration, shared responsibility, and the continual development of skills and perspectives. Her approach to leadership at PAU is deeply rooted in these values, guiding the University’s commitment to inclusive excellence and transformative education.
Residing in Oakland, California, with her spouse, Dr. Washington enjoys home improvement projects, ballroom dancing, and travel.
Patricia A. Zapf, PhD, Vice President, Business Innovation & Strategic Advancement
Patricia A. Zapf, PhD is Vice President for Business Innovation & Strategic Advancement at Palo Alto University (PAU). By connecting academia with the broader business and innovation ecosystem, the Division of Business Innovation & Strategic Advancement plays a crucial role in driving growth and innovation while fostering collaborations between the academic institution and external partners. Prior to her current role, Dr. Zapf served as the Vice President of Continuing and Professional Studies, after bringing her professional training company, CONCEPT, to Palo Alto University in 2018. Dr. Zapf founded CONCEPT Professional Training in 2009 with the mission of elevating the level of practice in psychology and related professions.
Prior to coming to PAU Dr. Zapf was a professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY) for 16 years, during which time she was instrumental in the development of a new doctoral program in clinical psychology with an emphasis in forensic psychology and served as the program’s first Director of Clinical Training. Prior to her time at CUNY, she was on the psychology and law faculty at the University of Alabama.
Dr. Zapf is a past President of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS; Division 41 of the American Psychological Association). In 2006, she was named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a Distinguished Member of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the science and profession of forensic psychology. She currently serves on the board of directors for the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS), and as the book series editor for the International Perspectives on Forensic Mental Health series. She served as an associate editor for Law and Human Behavior for more than a decade and as the editor of the American Psychology-Law Society book series for 10 years. Dr. Zapf has published more than 10 books and manuals and over 100 peer-reviewed publications on topics related to forensic evaluation, criminal competencies, ethics, bias, and forensic psychology.
Melanie Morrison, MBA, Senior Director of Board & Presidential Operations
Melanie Morrison brings over 10 years of experience in Higher Education to her role as Senior Director of Board and Presidential Operations at Palo Alto University (PAU). She provides operational support and manages special projects for the President's Office. Additionally, Melanie serves as the Secretary to the Board of Trustees. Melanie began working at PAU in 2011 in the Office of Academic Affairs as an Administrative Assistant. She later became the Executive Assistant to the Dean and then the Executive Assistant to the President.
Melanie is an alum of the inaugural class of the BS in Business Psychology Program at PAU and received her Masters in Business Administration from Notre Dame de Namur.