Kathleen Magee
Kathleen S. “Kathy” Magee stands as one of the world’s most influential humanitarian leaders—a visionary whose life’s work has reshaped access to surgical care for children and families across the globe. Her journey is also deeply connected to Norfolk State University, where she earned her Master of Social Work in 1986, grounding her in the values of service, compassion, and community uplift.
In 1982, Kathy co-founded Operation Smile with her husband, Dr. Bill Magee, embarking on a mission that began with a single trip to the Philippines and has since grown into one of the world’s most impactful global health organizations. Today, as President and CEO, she leads the organization’s vision, strategy, and partnerships, driving forward its commitment to providing life-changing cleft surgery and comprehensive care worldwide.
For more than 40 years, Magee has worked tirelessly to build Operation Smile’s international presence—traveling the world to establish in‑country boards and forging critical diplomatic, governmental, corporate, and medical alliances. Her efforts have helped deliver hundreds of thousands of free surgeries to children across continents, expanding the reach and reputation of the organization she helped create.
Magee has also been a champion for youth engagement, shaping Operation Smile’s Student Programs, which empower young leaders to volunteer, advocate, and raise funds for global surgical care. For years, she directed the International Student Leadership Conference, uniting more than 600 student leaders from 35 countries annually—a testament to her belief in developing the next generation of compassionate changemakers.
Her commitment to expanding scientific understanding has led to academic collaborations with institutions like the University of Southern California through the International Family Study, advancing research into cleft etiology.
In 2022, Magee launched the Next Decade of Love and Leadership, an ambitious global initiative designed to increase access to care for one million patients with clefts and other urgent surgical needs—a bold reflection of her enduring vision.
Kathy Magee’s passions—youth empowerment, women’s health equity, global training, and humanitarian service—continue to shape the world of global health. Her legacy is felt in every smile restored and every life transformed.
And for the Norfolk State University community, her success is a powerful reminder that Spartan excellence reaches every corner of the world.