Mary O’Connor recently formed a consulting service to provide clients with short term assistance in implementing effective community relations activities in the Washington, D.C. area and on a national basis. From 2005 – 2011, she served as served as Director of Outreach for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and was responsible for promoting the Center’s programs and events by providing opportunities for local and national exposure, funding resources, and board development, including the Center’s Annual Awards Dinner.

She is a recognized leader in the non-profit, corporate and political arenas. Her political interest began while serving as President of the Young Democrats at Trinity College, Washington, D.C. where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Mary served a two year term as National President of the ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Foundation, Inc, a non-profit foundation of 1500 women located in 14 cities throughout the United States. Since 1958, this organization has awarded over $66 million in scholarships to America’s brightest U.S. Citizen Scholars in the fields of science, engineering and medicine. She served on the ARCS Foundation National Advisory Board for 12 years.

While living in Atlanta, Ms. O’Connor founded Mary B. O’Connor and Associates, a community relations consulting firm that provided clients with a structured contributions strategy and targeted leadership roles in communities in the Southeast. As Executive Vice President of SciTrek, the Science and Technology Museum of Atlanta, Ms. O’Connor coordinated all Marketing, Development and Community Relations projects pertaining to opening a $6 million new science museum in Atlanta.