Mary E. Kennard, Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary

B.A.S., Urban Planning, Boston University
J.D., Beasely School of Law, Temple University
LL.M., International and Comparative Law, George Washington University National Law Center

Mary Kennard, is the chief legal counsel for the university and manages both the in-house and outside legal representation and services for the university. Kennard is a member of the president's cabinet. She has over 20 years experience in college and university legal affairs. After earning her J.D. and L.L.M, she joined the staff of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. She subsequently served as Assistant University Counsel at the University of Pittsburgh and as Howard University's University Counsel and Assistant to the Vice President for Legal Affairs. In 1987, she joined the University of Rhode Island as Legal Counsel for the University, Rhode Island Community College, and the Community College of Rhode Island. During her eight-year tenure at URI she also served as Interim Vice President for University Relations, Vice President for Federal Relations and Public Policy and taught business management and higher education law courses as a member of the adjunct faculty. Since joining American University in 1995, she has, in addition to her university legal practice, served as the co-chair of the University's Diversity Strategic Plan, served as the acting vice president of development in 1999-2000, co-anchored two video training tapes with the College and University Personnel Association, and served as a lecturer at numerous national conferences on law and higher education. Kennard is member of the Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and District of Columbia bars and her staff is licensed in Maryland and Virginia.