Mary E. Costello, known by friends as “Cos,” is a Social Worker by education, systems-orientation, and spirit. She is a former senior-level human services administrator and high-profile State of Maryland disability advocate turned full-service, independent nonprofit consultant. In addition to her proven effectiveness as a nonprofit leader, and her extensive background in organizational development and management—she is also a seasoned fundraising and communications professional. Incidentally, Mary has lived with de novo MBC since July of 2020.
In her earlier administrative roles, Mary was known for developing brand new programs and organizations “from the ground up,” as well as revamping agencies in danger of closure due to serious State licensing deficiencies. As one example, as President/CEO, Mary negotiated and won a 2.8 million dollar, 3-year grant contract with the State of Maryland to start-up and operate a residential program she founded in 1992 that supported adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health disorders deemed “difficult to place” due to previous “failure” to live successfully in the community. This organization’s annual operating budget now exceeds 24 million dollars.
Later in this early career period, Mary served as State of Maryland representative and disability advocate at the highest level. With the State, she was a proud member of a small but dynamic team of professionals that helped introduce the critical shift to today’s true person-centered planning and support approaches in Maryland… and beyond. This work occurred prior to anyone knowing what “person-centered” is… in health care, human services, or anywhere but the I/DD field. But person-centered practices remain at the heart of all Mary does in the social services/social justice realm—as it applies… or SHOULD apply… to all populations.
Ever since her de novo Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) diagnosis in July 2020, Mary has spoken publicly about her experiences since diagnosis, and continues to serve as a voice for those uncomfortable telling their own stories and for those who no longer can. As an advocate, she seeks to provide support and information—and hope—to newly-diagnosed folks, influence better policy and research outcomes, participate in identification and resolution of support service gaps (especially for historically marginalized communities), help healthcare providers increase cultural humility and person-first language, and make “patient-centered” more than a buzzword.
Mary is connected to all the key breast cancer and MBC organizations in the United States. She has been actively engaged with METAvivor since July 2021, has served on The Johns Hopkins INSPIRE Breast Cancer Research Advocacy Program team since April of 2022, and is an alumna of the 2023 Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) – Hear My Voice training program cohort for Metastatic Breast Cancer volunteer patient leadership. She has written multiple articles for AdvancedBreastCancer.net, served as a moderator/admin for two Facebook groups that support newly-diagnosed MBC patients, and appeared as an advocate presenter for a virtual workshop on the “Cost of Cancer” at LBBC’s Thriving Together: 2023 Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer. Mary expanded her advocacy work to include the broader fight for health justice for all and critically-needed healthcare reform, joining Be A Hero as an activist/advocate volunteer in July 2023.
Beyond her passionate—and even OBSESSIVE—service as MoreFor4’s Founder & CEO, Mary has several personal projects under development. This includes “CancerAside”—a regular sub-series of her soon-to-be-launched social justice podcast, “CosEffect.” In addition to her intended lifelong leadership of M44, she will continue her personal patient advocacy within the broad MBC community as well.
Mary is a 1987 graduate of The Catholic University of America, where she studied both Social Work and Drama. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is a singer/songwriter, actor, author, creator, dreamer, and die-hard social justice activist.
She / Her /Hers
EMAIL: MaryCos@MoreFor4.org