Peter McDonough promoted to general counsel

Princeton NJ -- Peter McDonough, a member of Princeton's legal staff for 12 years, has been promoted to lead that office as general counsel. His appointment, effective Feb. 1, was approved Jan. 26 by the University's trustees.

Peter McDonough

He succeeds Howard Ende, who last year announced his intentions to leave the University this fall to become president of the Mpala Wildlife Foundation, the primary funding source for the Mpala Research Center in Kenya. Ende will remain on staff for the next nine months as senior counsel.

"Peter McDonough has advised and represented Princeton exceedingly well these past 12 years," said President Tilghman. "He has an intimate understanding of the University's goals, values, policies and procedures, and in his work on a wide variety of issues he has earned the confidence and respect of his colleagues, his clients and the community at large.

"He also has risen to positions of national leadership among college and university attorneys," she continued. "Peter has been part of a very strong staff assembled over the years by Howard Ende, and we are delighted that as Howard's successor he will now bring his many talents and energies to the position of general counsel."

Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright, who chaired the search committee, said, "Peter McDonough was selected out of an extraordinarily strong pool of applicants and nominees. He is highly respected throughout the University by all of those with whom he has worked."

Since 1990, McDonough has served as University counsel, reporting to the general counsel. His specific areas of legal responsibility have included faculty and student affairs, employment, litigation and dispute avoidance, research integrity, contract review and drafting, athletics and construction matters. He has co-chaired the equity subcommittee for the periodic self-study of the University's intercollegiate athletics programs required by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and has served on the University's Review Panel for Human Subjects as well as its Administrative Process Team Advisory Council.

"Princeton is full of people who have the fortune to embrace their passion within their workplace," McDonough said. "I'm honored and extraordinarily excited to count myself among them since, for me, this is the best legal job in the world."

Active in the National Association of College and University Attorneys, McDonough currently is a member of its board of directors, Finance Committee and Task Force on Electronic Delivery. Previously, he chaired the association's Committee on Continuing Legal Education and served on its Strategic Planning Committee. He has been a frequent presenter at association conferences.

A resident of Lawrenceville, N.J., McDonough was a founding trustee of the Lawrence Township Education Foundation and has served as president and chair of its board.

Before joining the Princeton staff, McDonough worked for major law firms in New York City and Morristown, N.J., between 1982 and 1990. He earned his bachelor's and law degrees from Georgetown University.