Mary Ann grew up in western Pennsylvania and finished high school in sunny, southern California. She attended Humboldt State University in Arcata, California and received her Bachelor's of Art and Minor in Speech Communications in 1984. After relocating back to the East coast, Mary Ann returned to school and received her Master's in Expressive Therapies with a Specialization in Art Therapy at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1991. Her area of focus included working with children in an acute psychiatric setting using art therapy as a primary tool. She worked with adults in a long term day treatment center over the next five years. She has enjoyed Charlotte, North Carolina as her home since 1997 and has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings with children and adults.