Since 2004, Claire L. Gaudiani served as Clinical Professor at The George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. She stepped down from teaching at NYU in 2019. She has also served for 10 years as director of The Declaration Initiative, designed to advance the quality of life of those in the bottom 10 percent of the US income distribution.
Prior to 2004, Gaudiani was a Senior Research Scholar at the Yale Law School where she worked to complete a book entitled <em>The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the American Economy and Can Save Capitalism</em>.
Dr. Gaudiani served from 1998-2001 as President of Connecticut College. Under her leadership, Connecticut College quintupled its endowment and rose in the influential U.S. News and World Report survey from No. 41 to the mid-20’s. Applications for admission rose a total of 40 percent over the last five years of her service.
Dr. Gaudiani holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in French literature from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree, also in French, from Connecticut College. Dr. Gaudiani served for five years as the volunteer president of the non-profit New London Development Corporation. She has served on the boards of numerous for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises including The Henry Luce Foundation, MBIA Inc., the Shubert Theatre, the Connecticut Center for School Change, Connecticut Legal Services Advisory Board, Public Radio International, and Citizens Bank.