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About Virginia529

Leadership

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Mary Morris, CEO

Mary G. Morris is the Chief Executive Officer of Virginia529, which provides the largest tax-advantaged education savings program in the country with the direct Invest529 and advisor CollegeAmerica programs; the tax-advantaged disability savings ABLEnow and ABLEAmerica programs; and RetirePath Virginia, a state-facilitated workplace private retirement program launched in June 2023. Virginia529 sponsors SOAR Virginia, which administers a variety of scholarship and access, affordability, and attainment initiatives to foster inclusion in educational access and make postsecondary education more affordable and accessible to all.

Mary works with the executive team to develop the strategic vision and coordinates the operations, resources, outreach, and investments of Virginia529; she is involved in state and federal legislative and governance issues relating to 529, ABLE and private retirement initiatives and policy. Mary is a lawyer and, in private practice, specialized in tax, public finance, securities and ESG matters.  In the public sector, earlier in her career she served as a Virginia Senior Assistant Attorney General for Tax and Finance and served a term as the Treasurer of Virginia.

Mary earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Law and Taxation from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary.  She is active in both national 529 organizations, serving as Chair of the College Savings Plans Network and is a former Chair of the College Savings Foundation.  Mary is a member of the boards of the Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE) and the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) and a former board member of Junior Achievement of Central Virginia (JACV).

Invite Mary to speak at your event

Contact Devon Copeland, Senior Communications Associate
Phone: 804.225.2452

Topics of expertise

  • Education Savings
  • 529 Plans
  • Education Policy
  • Student Loan Debt
  • Disability Savings
  • College Access and Affordability
  • Financial Literacy
  • Higher Education Access
  • Taxes
  • Retirement Savings

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

  • College Savings Plans Network, Chair
  • College Savings Foundation, Past Board Chair/Media Committee member
  • Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE), Board member
  • Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, Board member
  • Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA), Member
  • Junior Achievement of Central Virginia (JACV), Past Board member
  • National Association of State Treasurers Legislative Committee, Member
  • Virginia State Bar, Member

More about Virginia529

About Virginia529

Get to know the history, mission, and savings programs of Virginia529.

Careers

Virginia529 is always on the lookout for talented individuals to join our growing team.

Reports

Review historical reports and current investment policies.

Procurement

Become a supplier of goods and services to Virginia529.