An incubator of women leaders |
Mary Fuller
| Mary is the Dean of Lincoln Law School of San Jose, a flexible and affordable institution committed to expanding access to legal education for working adults, first-generation students, and individuals from communities historically underrepresented in the legal profession. Her leadership is rooted in practical preparation and public service, with a focus on ensuring students receive rigorous, practice-ready training that equips them to pass the bar and serve their communities effectively. Mary’s career spans higher education, public service, and technology leadership. Most recently, she served as Regional Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Western Regional Office, working with inventors, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and policymakers to make intellectual property more accessible and better understood as a tool for innovation and growth. Across roles, she has focused on building strong institutions, aligning mission with impact, and creating opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive. As The CLUB’s newest board member, Mary brings thoughtful, mission-driven leadership and a deep commitment to equity and access. |
What industry do you work in?
I currently work in legal education as a Dean of Lincoln Law School of San Jose.
What's one skill, habit or strategy that's made the biggest difference in your career growth?
One habit that’s made the biggest difference for me is being willing to say yes to meaningful challenges before I felt fully “ready.” My career hasn’t followed a straight line—I’ve moved between engineering, law, public service, and leadership—and each step stretched me in a different way. I’ve learned that clarity often comes after action, not before. Being curious, doing the work, and surrounding myself with people who challenge my thinking has mattered more than having a perfect plan.What are you working towards in the next 2-3 years of your career?
Right now, I’m focused on building momentum around access, preparation, and opportunity. In my role as Dean of Lincoln Law School of San Jose, I’m working to strengthen pathways for people who want to expand what’s possible for their futures—often while balancing careers, families, and other responsibilities. More broadly, I’m interested in how education, technology, and community leadership can come together to create real mobility and impact, especially here in Silicon Valley.If your team had to name your leadership superpower, what do you think they'd say?
I think they’d say my superpower is helping people see possibilities—both for themselves and for the work we’re doing together. I’m good at connecting dots across disciplines and experiences, and translating complexity into a shared direction people can get behind. Whether I’m working with engineers, lawyers, students, or community leaders, I try to create space for people to do hard things with confidence and purpose.Copyright 2012 - 2022 The CLUB - A Women's Leadership Organization Serving Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area The Women's CLUB of Silicon Valley P.O. Box 126 Palo Alto, CA 94302 USA info@theclubsv.org |
