Mary graduated with a degree in biology and went on to receive her D.V.M. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

She joined the faculty at North Carolina State University (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. She retired years later as a professor of immunology and director of the flow cytometry laboratory at NCSU.

A leader in veterinary and immunology research, Mary was awarded the NCSU Alumni Association Outstanding Research Award, the American Veterinary Medicine Association/Winn Feline Foundation Excellence in Feline Research Award, and the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine Huffman Leadership Award. Her mentorship has shaped the careers of numerous graduate students who have gone on to make significant research contributions.