Mary Sissel began her two-year term as the Chair of the CU Foundation’s Board of Directors on November 6, 2020.
She is very familiar with foundations for higher education, having served as Chair of the Ball State University Foundation in Indiana and the Front Range Community College Foundation in Colorado. She has been a member of the CU Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2014. Mary has served in many leadership roles at the CU Foundation, including as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Membership Committee and the Governance Committee and a member of the Finance/Operations Committee.
A retired law firm administrator, Mary is an active community volunteer/leader. She is past Chair of the Craig Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and is a past member of the Craig Hospital Board of Directors. In 2015, she chaired a successful $50 million capital campaign for Craig Hospital. In 2017 and 2018, Mary co-chaired the $35 million Rocky Mountain Public Media capital campaign in support of its new headquarters facility.
Mary is a past Chair of the Center for Women’s Health Research Advisory Board at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado and The Denver Foundation. She also is former President of the Women’s Forum of Colorado.
She is married to George Sissel, former Chair of the CU Foundation Board (2004–06). Mary and George reside in Denver.
Mary earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University and a Master’s degree from Ball State University.