Meet Mary Lins

Mary Lins is an arts education leader and nonprofit executive with more than two decades of senior leadership experience. She is committed to advancing the organization’s legacy of cultivating performing artists, expanding access to music education, deepening community partnerships, and strengthening the Bay Area’s cultural ecosystem.

Mary brings a strategic, people-centered leadership style shaped by her belief in the transformative power of the arts. Previously, she worked as Executive Director of Berkeley Playhouse, where she led a period of sustained fiscal health, expanded access and scholarship programs, and strengthened the organization’s role as both a producing theater and a hub for arts education. Her tenure was marked by thoughtful growth, equity-centered programming, and a commitment to ensuring engagement with the performing arts for people regardless of circumstance.

An experienced fundraiser and collaborative leader, Mary has a strong track record of building philanthropic support, cultivating cross-sector partnerships, and aligning resources with mission-driven impact. She prioritizes fostering a healthy organizational culture grounded in clarity, trust, and shared purpose, while guiding institutions through times of transition with both care and strategic focus.

Mary trained in music and theater at Pennsylvania State University, Capital Area School for the Arts, and the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She holds a master’s degree in religion and the arts, reflecting her enduring interest in the intersection of creativity, meaning-making, and human connection.

Since arriving in California in 2015, Mary has made Oakland her home and holds an abiding appreciation for the city’s creative spirit, cultural richness, and strong sense of community. She brings enthusiasm for its artists, neighborhoods, and evolving cultural landscape to her work.

A singer-songwriter for more than 35 years, her own artistic practice has instilled an immense respect for the creative process and a strongly held belief in the vital role performing arts play in both individual lives and communities. She is honored to join the exceptional staff and board of Living Jazz, and is tremendously excited to partner in the good work of strengthening and advancing its role as a vibrant cultural anchor in the Bay Area.