Mary Seawell Metz graduated Summa cum laude in French and English from Furman University in 1958 and was awarded the Scholarship Cup.  As a student at Furman, she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Senior Order and received other honors, including Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities.  She continued her education at Louisiana State University on a National Defense Education Act Fellowship, receiving a Ph.D. in French in 1966, Magna cum laude.  She was the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship to France where she studied at the Sorbonne (1962-63).

Metz began her professional career as an Assistant Professor of French at Louisiana State University in 1966, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and directing the Elementary and Intermediate French Programs.  She was promoted to Associate Professor in 1972 and received tenure.  In 1974, as an American Council on Education Fellow, she was appointed Assistant to the Chancellor and provided a wide range of administrative support relating to academic program development, personnel decisions, budget matters and liaison with the Board of Regents and the state legislature.  She was elected to the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction in 1992.

Metz served as Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Hood College from 1976 to 1981.  She was appointed President of Mills College in 1981 and served for nine years.  In 1987, she was named one of the most effective college presidents in the United States by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.  She is the author of several French textbooks and articles on contemporary French literature and foreign language pedagogy.

As Dean of the University of California Extension (1991-1998), Metz was responsible for one of the largest continuing education programs in the world.  Upon her retirement, she received The Berkeley Citation.  As she transitioned towards retirement, she accepted the position of President of the S. H. Cowell Foundation in San Francisco and served from 1999 to 2006.

Metz was honored with The Distinguished Alumni Award by Furman University in 1977 and with an Honorary Doctor of Humanities in 1984.  She has also received Honorary Doctorates from Converse College and Chapman University.

Metz served on a number of Corporate Boards of Directors, including AT&T, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Union Bank, Long’s Drugs, and on non-profits Boards –  Rosenberg Foundation, S. H. Cowell Foundation, American Conservatory Theater, United Way of the Bay Area, World Affairs Council of Northern California and others.

As a national leader in the field of higher education and as an engaged citizen, Metz repeatedly articulated her special commitment to equal opportunity for women and minorities.