Mari is a graduate student in the Community and Regional Planning department and is currently a research assistant studying innovative land use regulations that help create livable communities supportive of active lifestyles.

She has a BS in History from Willamette University (Salem, OR) and served overseas with the US Department of State as a Community Liaison Officer, Assistant General Services Officer and Coordinator for the US Liaison Office in Mogadishu, Somalia. Mari is interested in community development and emergency planning.