McAuley Taps Alum And Former Classmates To Senior Leadership Team

CHICAGO — Staying true to its course of empowering women and girls to become leaders, Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School has hired two alumni and former classmates to its senior leadership team.

Beth Meyers Shibata is the school's first female hired to fill the role of vice president of administration and chief financial officer. Meredith Obiala Simpson will assume the role of director of marketing and communications. Both members of the McAuley class of 2003, they bring their strong Mercy values and passion for the school’s mission to their new roles, along with robust experience.

As an all-girls school whose mission is to foster confidence in young women and encourage and prepare them to pursue and achieve their loftiest goals, McAuley is proud to now boast an all-female senior leadership team. They are poised and ready to show their students and the wider community what women can accomplish.

Shibata is the first female to assume the role of vice president of administration and chief financial officer. With 17 years of experience in accounting, finance and operations, Shibata’s background and proven track record lends her the essential skills and leadership capabilities to successfully lead McAuley in important financial and administrative decisions. Shibata began her career as an accountant before advancing through the ranks at JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle), where she most recently held the position of senior vice president/senior director of operations in the Midwest business sector. After transitioning to a consultant role, she is now excited to now bring her extensive experience and commitment to Mother McAuley.

“McAuley holds a very special place in my heart as I believe the values and education I received set me up for both personal and professional success,” Shibata said in a news release. “McAuley made me believe in myself and I knew I could go far in life if I put in the hard work.”

Shibata holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from Eastern Illinois University and an MBA from Governors State University. She will be responsible for ensuring the school’s continued financial stability, directing the financial planning and accounting practices, and serving as administrative liaison with financial institutions, other educational institutions, all professional entities, and parents in matters relating to finance, among other duties.

Simpson, too, shares her enthusiasm for working at her alma mater.

“I am eager to join the administrative team at McAuley, where I can expand my skill set while contributing to a mission and values that resonate deeply with me,” Simpson said. “I am particularly excited about opportunities that will allow me to support and grow the McAuley community, enabling me to make a meaningful impact and grow professionally within a team that shares the same commitments.”

Simpson has worked in corporate communications for 17 years, developing expertise in key areas such as digital marketing, public relations, media relationship management and communications to a variety of audiences. Over the years, she has gained experience in both agency and in-house roles, working with companies like Aspect Software, Hill & Knowlton, Edelman, Mattersight and most recently Billtrust, a leading provider of accounts receivable automation solutions, where she served as senior director of marketing communications. She holds a degree in public relations and advertising from Marquette University.

She brings her skills to the South Side, where she will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic communication plan for Mother McAuley. Simpson will oversee content on the school website and social media, manage public and media relations, and lead correspondence with the entire McAuley community.

McAuley President Carey Temple Harrington said the senior leadership team is poised and ready to show their students and the wider community what women can accomplish.

“I am incredibly excited to welcome Beth and Meredith back home to Mother McAuley,” Harrington said. “Their knowledge, management skills, and work ethic will be incredible assets to our school. With their expertise and their passion for both their work and our school, I know we will thrive and continue to be a leading choice in education for young women throughout Chicagoland.”