Mary S. Petersen

Personal Bio

Mary S. Petersen is Vice President and University Counsel at Seattle University where she also serves as Corporation Secretary. The Vice President and University Counsel serves as the University’s chief legal officer and is a member of the President’s cabinet, which is the senior leadership team of the University. In this role, Mary directs the representation of the University in all legal matters; serves as legal advisor to the Board of Trustees, the President, and other senior administrators; and offers advice to other University entities on matters of law, policy and procedure, and institutional governance. Prior to joining Seattle University in 2006, Mary was a partner with the Miller Nash law firm, where she worked extensively with higher education, health care and other non-profit entities. She has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General to the University of Washington and Western Washington University. In July 2010, Mary completed the Harvard Graduate School of Education Institute for Educational Management Program at Harvard University.

A 1982 graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, Mary has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. She is admitted to practice in the state of Washington, the federal courts with jurisdiction for Washington, and the United States Supreme Court.