Mary Ann is a former high school English teacher who spent a year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in France.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a French minor equivalent from Pomona College, a Language Certificate from Sorbonne University in Paris, a Teaching Credential in English and French from CSU Long Beach, and a Master of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from San Diego State University.

Mary Ann taught high school English for 4 years, and spent 8 years at SDSU as an Administrative Coordinator and Academic Advisor, counseling students in the International Business program.