Mary grew up in Pittsburgh, PA as the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Neuroscience, a field that sparked her interest in clinical medicine. She was selected for membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society and Nu Rho Psi National Neuroscience Honors Society.

Throughout college, Mary was an undergraduate research assistant in the Hodes research lab, studying sex differences in mood disorders with a focus on sex specific immune interactions with the brain. Outside of academics, Mary served as a volunteer Young Life leader at Christiansburg High School, where she cultivated relationships with students through social events, bible studies, and one-on-one mentorship. Mary was also a member of VT Engage, a campus organization which promotes service learning and civic engagement. She also volunteered for several years as a medical scribe at Bradley Free Clinic and is now working as an emergency department scribe at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Mary hopes to further her education through medical school, which she believes will combine her desire to serve people in a holistic manner with her passion for relentless inquiry.