Mary G. Berner ’81
Mary Berner’s rise through the world of advertising and publishing has been nothing short of phenomenal. Upon graduating from Holy Cross in 1981, she sold advertising for Citizen Group Publications and Where Magazine. Right from the start, Mary displayed an insatiable curiosity and a desire for challenge that would propel her to the pinnacle of the magazine industry. From Working Woman Magazine to Success to TV Guide, Mary was able to break records at every step along her journey.
In November, 1995, Mary became publisher of Glamour, the world’s largest and most profitable fashion journal. In December, 1997, she was named vice president of that corporation. During her tenure at Glamour, she developed breakthrough marketing partnerships that have given the publication its finest performance in over 20 years.
Mary’s accomplishments have earned her the National Council of Women’s "Young Women Achievers" award. In 1996, she was voted Publisher of the Year by Frohlinger Report and the following year she was inducted into the Academy of Women Achievers. Outside of the boardroom, she leads fund-raising and mentoring efforts at St. Pius School for Girls in the South Bronx. In spite of her daunting schedule, Mary is as devoted a mother to her three young children (Molly, John and Michael) as she is a purlisher.
For her boundless energy, ceaseless innovation, and unflagging devotion to quality, the College of the Holy Cross presents to Mary Berner the Sanctae Crucis Award.