Mary founded Premise with the belief that all adults, no matter how busy, deserve the chance to engage in meaningful conversations about life’s most important questions. She believes grounding each discussion in a piece of art—whether literature, nonfiction, or film—creates a shared foundation for rich dialogue and diverse perspectives. For Mary, real connection happens not through small talk, but by exploring thoughtful questions that touch on the heart of the human experience. Mary is passionate about making intellectual exploration accessible and believes it should fit into even the busiest schedules. With Premise, she offers adults the opportunity to step away from daily routines and engage in deep, structured conversations that prioritize curiosity and joy over competition or debate. She values listening and questioning as much as sharing ideas, creating a welcoming space where everyone’s voice matters. With two decades of experience leading conversation-style courses with Symposium Great Books Institute, Gather Learning, Portland Literary Arts Foundation, and in high school class rooms, Mary’s work has always centered on the power of conversation. She holds master’s degrees from Brown University, St. John’s College, and San Jose State University, and is a two-time National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow. Mary’s thinking and work is deeply inspired by the thinking and writing of philosopher Hannah Arendt, and she has been a presenter at the Bard College Annual Conference on Arendt. After a brief hiatus, Premise is relaunching in Fall 2024. The program, which has had hundreds of past participants, began in 2012 as an in-person offering in San Francisco before shifting online during the pandemic. Mary is excited to expand Premise nationwide and partner with others to bring Premise conversations across the country. Mary lives in Portland, Oregon