Mary earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in behaviour analysis from the University of North Texas. She consults with people and their pets, working mainly with dogs and horses. In addition, Mary teaches online courses for professional animal trainers and others interested in the science of behaviour through her company, Behavior Explorer.
Mary has taught classes at the University of North Texas as an adjunct instructor. Her interest in instructional design led her to convert an upper-level undergraduate class into a self-paced, mastery-based course using Dr Fred Keller’s Personalized System of Instruction. In 2019, Mary and Dr Jesús Rosales-Ruiz published their first book, PORTL: The Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab.
Mary’s primary research interests include studying the process of shaping and developing better methods for teaching both people and animals. She is a full member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and has presented her research at the organization’s annual convention.
Mary likes to share stories of her animal training adventures on her personal blog,StaleCheerios.com