Mary is a dynamic leader with a rich background in nonprofit leadership and educational advancement, thriving in roles that challenge her to innovate and achieve success. With a keen eye for strategic vision and a talent for driving results, Mary specializes in crafting impactful advancement programs that propel schools toward their goals.
Mary's passion lies in building strong, effective teams and overcoming the unique hurdles experienced by all-girls schools. Her mission is to help all schools envision and realize their dreams for the future through a robust advancement program, breathing life into their mission for the betterment of their students.
With a proven track record in advancement, Mary has led Mercy Burlingame's program to remarkable growth, spearheading major gift efforts that have raised over $4 million for tuition assistance, benefiting over 2,000 students. Notably, she secured the school's first seven-figure gift of $4.75 million, marking a milestone in its history.
Before her tenure at Mercy High School, Mary served as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities, where she pioneered innovative programs and fundraising initiatives to address pressing community needs, from homelessness to programs for the elderly and housing for unwed mothers.
Driven by a commitment to Catholic education, Mary is deeply involved in community service and has been a member of multiple parish and school boards. Additionally, she sits on the Peninsula Healthcare District Allocations Committee, which awards grants to the local community. She resides in San Mateo, CA, with her husband Lars, and together, they have three grown children, Theresa, Kathleen, and Kevin, as well as a new grandson named Harrison.
