Mary Ek

Mary Ek has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and industries. Mary started their career as the High School Director at Volunteers of America MN in 2001 and went on to serve as the Director of Education within the same organization. In 2003, Mary transitioned to become the Charter School Liaison, providing technical consulting and oversight to VOA sponsored charter schools. Mary also worked as the Director of Organization Performance and Quality at Volunteers of America MN, where they were responsible for strategic planning and performance analysis.

In 2008, Mary joined DKY Advertising Agency as an Editor before taking on the role of Project Manager at ACT on Alzheimer's in 2011. Mary then worked at the Collective Action Lab as a Project Manager and Program Director, where they oversaw major systemic change initiatives and facilitated collaboration among multiple organizations.

Mary later started their own consulting business, Mary Ek Consulting, LLC, where they provided a range of consulting services such as learning, strategy, project management, and process consulting to schools, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations. Notably, they served as the Independent Consultant for a national initiative that supported the creation of dementia-friendly communities across the United States.

Mary also worked as a Parent Coach and Educator at Mary Ek Parent Coach, offering support and guidance to parents. Most recently, Mary joined USAging as the Director of Dementia Friendly America and Community Care Corps, overseeing programs aimed at promoting dementia-friendly communities and providing community care.

Throughout their career, Mary has demonstrated strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, and expertise in program management and collaboration.

Mary Ek attended the University of Notre Dame from 1988 to 1992, where they obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Psychology/Education. Mary later pursued a Master's degree in Teacher Leadership (Education) from the University of Minnesota, studying from 1998 to 2000.