Mary received a BA with Honors from Macalester College and an MA from Hamline University. Her work has been shown nationally in exhibitions including the Chicago Navy Pier International Art Expositions, and exhibition venues in Texas, Washington, D.C., the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Plains Museum among many others. International showings include exhibitions in Thailand, Finland and the Dominican Republic as well as several works in the US Art in Embassies Programs.

Mary is Professor of Art, Associate Dean of Fine Arts - Drawing, Design, Painting at St. Olaf College. She has been on the faculty since 1988. She has also taught interdisciplinary courses in Women’s Studies and Contemporary Art, First Year Writing and supervises Center for Interdisciplinary Studies students.