I was born in Columbus, Ohio over half a century ago. We moved to the Athens area in 1985. While rearing my family (three daughters and one son) has been my primary focus of choice for the past 35 years, I have managed to continue my education in varied ways. I am a McNair Scholar. I graduated from Ohio with a Bachelor of Specialized Studies in Feature Writing in 2007. My personal challenge is finding a focus within my ever-expanding list of communication interests, which include (but are not limited to!) communicating hope, leadership, impact of name, name change-progression in other cultures, visual (including fonts), body, eyes, labels (diagnostic and cultural; e.g.: ‘Autistic’, ‘in denial’), intimate communication and marriage quality/longevity, picture books for seniors, same gender covert cultural messages, vocabulary and its effect on social standing, math as language, separation of self from culture, invasiveness of technology and its effect on cultures (specifically southwestern Ireland and Ghana).

You’ll see my name spelled two different ways as I attempt to provide differentiation from the probable thousands of others who share my name (there are approximately six of us in Athens county alone, one of whom shares my birthday as well). Maíri is the Scottish equivalent of Mary. The confusion my attempt at clarification has caused is a lesson in communications in itself. Suggestions welcomed.

I enjoy my vintage recumbent bike, sewing (or at least I did in a previous life!), music, chocolate, Macs, children’s literature, reading aloud, writing and illustrating in varied media. I’m a member of Athens Women Raise the Roof, a local Habitat for Humanity coalition. I like to camp with my son and hubby, and make annual trips to Vermont to see my three granddaughters. I also travel frequently to visit my 87-year-old mother and my recently widowed 86-year-old mother-in-law. In my next life (and I do not mean after death!), I’ll be able to replace my poor, worn-down iBook G4 and actually do something with my avatar on Second Life.