Dr. Mary E. McBean is a mature woman, community activist, former mayoral candidate, small business owner, CEO/President of a 501(c)(3) organization, and California state retiree. She has been a resident of California since graduating from L. J. Rowan High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She is the proud mother of one son, who, along with his wife, has blessed her with two wonderful grandchildren—twins, a boy and a girl.
Mary began her professional journey working as a domestic caregiver, salesclerk, nanny, nurse’s aide, and janitor before advancing into the nursing profession as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, Nurse Educator, and Technical Nurse. Her dedication and perseverance led to her becoming the first recipient of the Marilyn Carlisle Nursing Fund, which provided her the opportunity to complete an R.N. program in one year after fulfilling the program’s specific requirements.
After working diligently for fifteen years, Mary’s journey was far from over. Her perseverance carried her forward for another fifteen years as she continued to advance professionally and academically.
Her dedication to excellence, coupled with her Christian upbringing, led her to California Baptist University, where she earned a Master’s degree in Education. Still determined to continue her education, she went on to earn a Master’s degree in Nursing, along with a Clinical Nurse Specialist credential in Education. She later enrolled in a Biomedical Ethics program at Loma Linda University and ultimately earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, completing a thesis focused on ethics.
As her career and education continued to move forward, so did Mary’s passion and desire to be an asset to her community. She has devoted her time, energy, and experience to public service through appointments to the Arts Commission Board, Accessibility Appeals Board, and Senior Citizens Advisory Board. She has also been a candidate for mayor twice.
While service, education, and professional achievement have played significant roles in Mary’s life, she also makes room for creativity. An amateur writer, Mary has written a nonfiction book chronicling her experience with breast cancer and frequently writes poetry and short stories. Her love of writing began as a teenager in Mississippi, when her first short story received an honorable mention from a publisher—along with the memorable prize of 500 bags of potato chips.
