Mary came to higher education after spending years in preK-12 education, adult and community education, arts education, and English Language learning. Mary brings extensive knowledge of the non-profit and human services world to her work as well. She has held positions with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the American Youth Foundation. In St. Louis, Mary has been associated with a number of communitybased equity organization including the National Conference for Community and Justice, the Anti-Defamation League, FOCUS St. Louis, and the Diversity Awareness Partnership. She provided training to the Ferguson Commission and remains connected to the work of Forward Through Ferguson. Mary is a St. Louis native with a commitment to lifelong learning, engaged citizenship, and equity and social justice. She earned a doctorate in education with an emphasis in social justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Along with a colleague at UM-St. Louis, Mary co-hosted the 7th Annual White Privilege Conference – Youth: A Call to Action in 2006. She is a proud mother and mentor to many in the social justice arena.