Mary Kokkinen serves as Director of Executive Communications to the President. Mary joined SCU in this new role in August of 2024 to assist President Julie Sullivan with her communications needs spanning internal and external speaking engagements, reputation management, and thought leadership.
Mary comes to Santa Clara as a seasoned communication leader with over 20 years’ previous work experience spanning executive communications, public relations, and internal communications leadership roles and overall communications consulting in a range of industries including the technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and entertainment sectors. Prior to Santa Clara, Mary led executive communications for the CEO of a Silicon Valley-based AI startup, while also managing the internal communications function and team. Before that, she led public affairs and executive/internal communications for one of Chicago-based Abbott’s flagship medical device cardiology businesses. Additional past roles include managing the public relations portfolios of St. Paul-based 3M’s seven Health Care divisions, internal marketing communications consulting to 3M’s 40+ diversified technology businesses, and a senior media buyer in the national television marketplace based out of NYC.
Mary holds a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Boston College.