Mary Oling-Sisay is Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, CA.

Her extensive academic administrative responsibilities there include oversight for several academic units, academic planning, and the overall management of resources for the division of academic affairs. Mary excels in her current post at CSUSM because she has years of experience in faculty and administrative positions at both small and large universities in the U.S. She is a graduate of the Higher Education Resources (HERS) Institute for Women in Higher Education at Bryn Mawr College, and is a Fellow of the American Council on Education (ACE) Executive Leadership Program.

Mary has a unique perspective on educational planning and development since she grew up in Uganda, and experienced first-hand the challenges for schools in developing nations to attain academic excellence. She received her bachelor’s degree in Literature and Linguistics from Makerere University in Kampala and then moved to the U.S. to complete her graduate education earning a master’s degree in Public Communications from Fordham University and a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Southern California. She is a citizen of the U.S. and has developed many strong partnerships with educational leaders. Through her transition and training in these two countries, she developed an insight and passion for inclusive education that guides her even now.

Mary brings an informed and personal knowledge of the Ugandan educational system and culture to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for Quench and Connect. She will make valuable contributions to project planning as our non-profit work in Uganda moves into the future.