Donda Clairann West (née Williams; July 12, 1949 – November 10, 2007) was an American educator and chair of Chicago State University's Department of English, Communications, Media, and Theater. She was best known for being the mother of American rapper Ye.

West was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Lucille (née Eckles) and Portwood Williams Sr., a civil rights activist. On August 19, 1958, she and her father took part in the Katz Drug Store sit-in in Oklahoma City. West attended Douglass High School, graduating in 1967. She earned her bachelor's degree in English from Virginia Union University in 1971 and her doctoral degree from Auburn University in 1980.

West began her teaching career in the early 1970s at Morris Brown College in Atlanta and began working at Chicago State University in 1980. West taught English at Nanjing University for a year as a scholar through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. In all, West spent 27 years at Chicago State, in head of the department of English, communications, media and theater. A statement from the university recalled West's role in establishing the university's Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing "as an academic focus to teach writings of African-American authors and poets while fostering new literary talent."

West raised Kanye in the Chicago area after leaving Atlanta, where she had lived along with her husband, Ray, from whom she separated when Kanye was 3. Although she strongly emphasized the importance of education to Kanye, she fully supported him when he decided to drop out of college to pursue a music career. In 2004, she retired from teaching and moved to California to work full-time for her son. She was often seen at his side at parties and award shows. She was also a firm defender of her son's controversial comments. West stated that she "trained her son for greatness." "There is no room for shyness. I raised him that way, to think critically and analytically and not be afraid to voice what you feel. I helped shape that. I think leaders are people who must do that." She was also chief executive of West Brands, the parent company of her son's businesses.

West was tasked with a mission to battle dropout and illiteracy rates, while partnering with community organizations to provide underprivileged youth access to music education. The Foundation's first initiative, Loop Dreams, challenged at-risk students to learn how to write and produce music while simultaneously improving their academic skills. In 2007, the foundation partnered with Strong American Schools as part of their "Ed in '08" campaign. In 2008, the foundation was renamed to the Dr. Donda West Foundation following her death. The Dr. Donda West Foundation was committed to providing high-quality programs in partnership with community organizations such as Challengers Boys & Girls Club in South Central Los Angeles, California. The foundation ceased operations in 2011.

On November 10, 2007, Donda West died at age 58. In January 2008, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said that she had died of coronary artery disease and multiple post-operative factors from cosmetic surgery. Authorities in Los Angeles launched an investigation into her death after learning the doctor who operated on her, Jan Adams, had convictions for alcohol-related offenses and at least two major malpractice settlements.

Kanye played his first concert following her funeral at The O₂ Arena in London on November 22. He dedicated a performance of "Hey Mama", as well as a cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," to his mother, and did so on all other dates of his Glow in the Dark Tour. She was posthumously featured and referenced on multiple songs in Kanye's 2021 namesake studio album for her, Donda.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger subsequently signed the "Donda West Law" in 2009. This legislation makes it mandatory for patients to receive medical clearance through a physical examination before undergoing elective cosmetic surgery.