Mary E. Lyons, PhD, became the president of the University of San Diego in July 2003. During her extensive career in education, Dr. Lyons has enjoyed rich and varied experiences as a teacher, professor, and administrator.
Before her present appointment, Dr. Lyons served as the president of the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. Prior to this, she served as the president of the California Maritime Academy, a campus of the California State University in Vallejo, Calif. With this appointment, she was commissioned as a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Maritime Service. Previously, she was the Academic Dean and Professor of Rhetoric and Homiletics at the Franciscan School of Theology, Graduate Theological Union, in Berkeley, California.
A fifth generation Californian, Dr. Lyons spent her childhood traveling with her military family, living throughout the United States and in Eritrea, Africa. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sonoma State University; her Master of Arts degree in English from San Jose State University, and her PhD in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley. During her 25-year career as a U.S. Naval Reserve Officer, she held a variety of assignments, including an active duty position teaching at the Naval Training Center in San Diego and two appointments as Commanding Officer of Naval Reserve units. She retired in 1996 as a Captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Dr. Lyons has been recognized for leadership and service by numerous associations, including the Educator Distinguished Service Award from the National Defense Transportation Association, the University of San Francisco Medallion for scholarly achievement and community service, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Sonoma State University, and the recipient of a Doctorate of Humane Letters from The College of New Rochelle.
Her publications and presentations touch on a variety of topics, drawing upon her expertise as a Rhetorician, an educator, and a community leader.
Among her current Board appointments are: Association of Independent Catholic Colleges and Universities, Council of Presidents for the Association of Governing Boards, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, California Campus Compact, Campus Compact (national office), and St. Joseph Health System.
