Mary Sellers was named president of United Way of Central Iowa in February, 2024. As the organization’a chief executive she leads United Way’s strategies to achieve substantive community impact in the priority areas of education, income and health to improve lives and build a stronger central Iowa.

Sellers joined United Way with a 20-year track record of leadership success in nonprofit and community organizations.

For 10 years Mary was the President and CEO of the Science Center of Iowa where she guided the planning, fundraising, execution and operations of the $62 million, 110,000 square foot facility located in downtown Des Moines.

From 2024 to 2024 she served on the right-member board of the Getty Leadership Institute in Los Angeles and has served as a peer reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Science Foundation.

In December 2024 Mary was appointed by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to the Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission.

From 2024-2008 Mary served as a board member for BRAVO Greater Des Moines. Mary is a current Board member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, a member of the Greater Des Moines committee and an active member of the Young Presidents Organizations.

Mary is a Des Moines Business Record’s 2024 Women of Influence honoree. She has been recognized by the Des Moines Register as one of the 13 people to watch in 2024, in 2024 by Point Blank newspaper (now CityView) as one of the top 10 people making difference for the community, and in 1999 by The Des Moines Business Record as one of the 40 under 40.

Mary earned her BA degree from the Univserity of Florida and her MBA through the Executive MBA program at the University of Iowa Tippie School of Management. She also graduated from the Getty Leadership Institute at the University of California Berkeley, and the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business.