Mary Kennard, is the chief legal counsel for the university and, along with her staff of four in-house attorneys, manages both the in-house and outside legal representation and services for the university. Ms. 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. from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1980, and L.L.M. in international and comparative law from The George Washington University, National Law Center, 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 College, and the Community College of Rhode Island.

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. Ms. Kennard was the first vice president of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and is president-elect of the Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA), the largest chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel.