Volunteer to Elect Andrew Donovan
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Community Involvement
Giving back and strengthening communities has always been a priority for me. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Waltham Chamber of Commerce, working to support local businesses and foster economic vitality in the region. I also serve on the Development Committee for Archbishop Williams High School, helping advance the school’s mission for current and future students.
Previously, I served on the Board of Directors for Samaritans, Inc. in Boston, one of the nation’s leading suicide prevention organizations, and on the Board for Notre Dame Montessori School in Dorchester, helping expand educational opportunities for young learners. I have been honored to serve on multiple host committees supporting Governor Charlie Baker’s gubernatorial campaigns, working to engage neighbors in the civic process.
Here in Weymouth, I spent over seven years on the Board of Directors for Weymouth Youth Hockey as Fundraising Director, Instructional Director, and Secretary, teaching over 500 Weymouth residents to skate and play hockey while building community around the rink. During my time as Fundraising Director with WYH, we organized the "Weymouth Backs the Blue" event to support the Chesna family, and also was a proud member of "Carly's Crew" raising money for a local family. I have also been deeply involved with Saint Francis Xavier School, serving on its Marketing and Development Committee to raise significant funds in support of its students.
These experiences have shaped my belief in the power of community, collaboration, and service, and they continue to guide how I show up for my neighbors each day.
Work Experience
I am a strategic business development leader with over 25 years of experience forging impactful partnerships across education, media, and innovation sectors. Currently, I serve as Director of Business Development at Bentley University, where I lead global and domestic initiatives that connect organizations with Bentley’s talented students, faculty, and research capabilities. My work has taken me to Stockholm, Dubai, Milan, Rome, Toronto, and across the United States, building relationships that expand educational access, fuel innovation, and strengthen community and industry ties.
Throughout my career, I have partnered with global brands and organizations—ranging from Fortune 10 companies to technology startups—to design creative, outcome-focused solutions that address complex challenges. Whether launching custom executive education programs, convening thought leadership summits, or helping organizations deliver important marketing messages, I have built a track record of aligning institutional missions with real-world needs to drive measurable impact.
Earlier in my career, I served as Head of Growth at Innovation Leader, where I expanded partnerships with corporate innovation teams, and held leadership roles with organizations such as Gatehouse Media, and The Boston Globe, driving new business development initiatives. My professional journey also includes serving as shop steward for the Advertising Department at The New York Times/Boston Globe with the Boston Newspaper Guild, where I advocated for my colleagues and deepened my commitment to fair workplaces.
These experiences have allowed me to build an extensive professional network across industries, sharpen my creative problem-solving skills, and develop a collaborative, consultative approach to leadership. I believe in the power of partnerships to create opportunities, drive innovation, and strengthen communities.
Upbringing
I grew up in Dorchester, MA, in St. Ann Parish, where I attended St. Ann School as the youngest of four children (Eric, Kelly, and Amy) of Ed and Chris Donovan. My parents spent their entire careers as social workers for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts—my dad with the Department of Developmental Services and my mom with the Department of Mental Health—and they were proud SEIU union members who taught us the value of service and community.
I attended Boston Latin Academy, where I captained the hockey team my senior year and served as Student Government president before heading to Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. I graduated in 1999 with a B.A. in Classics, majoring in Latin and Ancient Greek. While at Saint Anselm, I met my wife, Shannon, who grew up in Milton, and we were married at the St. Anselm Abbey Church in November 2004.
Since then, we have made Weymouth our home, a community that has shaped us, guided us, and provided an exceptional environment for our daughters to grow.
Life in Weymouth
For the past 21 years, my wife Shannon and I have proudly called Weymouth our home, raising our two daughters, Lily and Anna, and our dog, Russell, in the same house on Union Street since 2004. Our girls attended Saint Francis Xavier School and Archbishop Williams High School, where we’ve built lasting connections in the community.
At SFX, I served on the Marketing and Development Committee and helped raise significant funds for the school. I currently serve on a Development Committee for Archbishop Williams, supporting the school’s mission and its students.
Many in town know me best as “Coach Dunny” with Weymouth Youth Hockey, where I spent over seven years on the Board of Directors as Fundraising Director, Instructional Director, and Secretary, teaching more than 500 Weymouth kids, teens, and adults to skate and play hockey.
Outside the rink, our family has stayed busy on the sidelines and fields too, with the girls playing soccer, lacrosse, and basketball, and me pitching in as a coach for soccer and lacrosse along the way.
Meet Andy
Our Vision for Weymouth
Weymouth is growing, and with that expansion, we must be prepared to meet the needs of all its residents...especially in regards to Safety, Services, and Systems.
SAFETY: As our town expands, we need to make sure our first responders—our police, fire, and emergency personnel—have the staffing, training, and resources they need to keep us safe. Growth without safety isn’t progress. It’s pressure. We owe it to the people who protect us—and to every resident—to make smart, sustainable investments in public safety.
SERVICES: The kind of growth we’re seeing isn’t just about homes. It’s about who lives in them. Yes, we need to support our schools—because educating our young people isn’t just a moral obligation; it’s the foundation of a strong workforce and an informed community. But we also need to prepare for the future. As more senior living facilities are built and more baby boomers retire, we’ll see a surge in demand for elder services—transportation, health support, housing assistance, and connections to our community.
SYSTEMS: Weymouth's infrastructure was built for a different era. Whether it's water, utilities, or roads—our systems need modernization. Development can’t outpace our capacity to support it. We need to start thinking about our infrastructure as the foundation of everything else: public health, environmental resilience, and quality of life.
I'm ready to listen,
I'm ready to learn,
I'm ready to serve!
