Mary E. Kennard served for 23 years as the Vice President and General Counsel for American University. She previously served as counsel to the University of Pittsburgh, Howard University, the University of Rhode Island, the Community College of Rhode Island, and Rhode Island College, before joining American University in 1995.
In addition, Mary served as the chief development officer for both the University of Rhode Island and American University. She has taught at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Rhode Island, and the Washington College of Law at American University.
Mary was the 2008-2009 President of NACUA and served on its Board from 1995-1998. As such, Mary also served and presided over numerous NACUA committees. In addition, her most recent publication, Legal Primer for Board Operations, was published by the Association of Governing Boards.
Mary is the recipient of the 2012 General Counsel Career Achievement Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel-National Capital Region. In 2011, Ms. Kennard received the In-House Counsel Award from The Legal Times and the North Star Award from the Washington College of Law for mentorship in the legal profession. In May of 2009, she was honored by Boston University with its Alumni Distinguished Service Award. She is also a past award recipient of the Lawyer of the Year Award and the Stars of the Bar Award by the Women’s Bar Association of Washington, DC. She was also recognized as a “Top Washington Lawyer” by the Washington Business Journal. Mary was a 2014 recipient of the NACUA Distinguished Service Award.
In May of 2013, Mary received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Rhode Island in recognition of her commitment to diversity in U.S. higher education. She was the first African American Vice President of the University of Rhode Island.
Mary attended Boston University, Temple University, Beasley School of Law, and The George Washington University National Law Center.
In the words of her colleagues, Mary has offered her insights candidly and constructively to make NACUA a better organization. Her sense of humor and goodwill help others move away from themselves and focus on common goals and sensible solutions.
NACUA is pleased to recognize Mary E. Kennard as a Life Member of the Association in recognition of her outstanding service and her sustained and substantial contributions to NACUA and the field of higher education law.