Mary Holiman received her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Psychology and Criminology from Johnson C. Smith University where she was a peer tutor and mentor. Shortly after graduating, she moved to New York where she obtained her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Science and Practice from New York University. Mary previously worked as Prevention & Wellness Educator within the public school system teaching violence and substance misuse prevention, along with social and emotional regulation skills to K-12th grades. She currently works as the Communications & Organizing Director for Rise, an organization for parents impacted by the child welfare system, by parents impacted by the child welfare system. Inspired by her own experiences, she has done research on the correlation between early childhood experiences and juvenile delinquency, social justice activism in e-learning and online spaces, and arts-based health & wellness practices. Passionate about community and youth development, she aspires to have her own center one day that provides free services to low-income children and families. In her free time, she likes to dance, read, play video games, and enjoys trying new things.