Mary graduated from Santa Clara University in 2009 with a BS in Political Science and a minor in Arabic, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Prior to NIJC, she was the Field Associate for NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby in Washington, DC, where she educated members on social justice issues that were before Congress and lobbied on Social Security and housing law. Previously, Mary worked as a case manager at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, where she mentored former gang members and at-risk youth. She has studied abroad in Granada, Spain and volunteered in Mexico.