Mary Adele France, also known as M. Adele France (February 17, 1880 in Chestertown, Maryland – September 16, 1954 in Catonsville, Maryland[1]), was the first president of St. Mary's Female Seminary Junior College,[2] which is now a coeducational, four-year public honors college, known as St. Mary's College of Maryland.

[2] She is credited with expanding St. Mary's Female Seminary into a junior college.

Adelle based her rationale for expanding the school into a college on women recently gaining the right to vote.

Mary Adele France received an honorary degree in 1942 from Washington College "for her significant contributions to the education of young women."

Eleanor Roosevelt also received an honorary degree at the graduation ceremony.