As a Livingston Co. 4-H member from 1943-51, Mary Lou participated in camps, fairs, and State 4-H Congress. After graduating from Buffalo State College, she became an Agent and later Staff Chairman in Madison Co. from 1954-74. In 1973, she earned in M.S. in Education from Syracuse University. She served as 4-H Program Leader and then Executive Director in Oneida Co. from 1974-82. Mary Lou joined the State Staff at Cornell University and became the State 4-H Leader from 1983-92, when she became Asst. Director for all Cornell Cooperative System programs including the 4-H Youth Development Program. After her retirement in 1994, Mary Lou promoted planned giving initiatives for the Foundation.
Throughout her career, Mary Lou demonstrated her commitment to innovative program and resource development, collaboration, and professional development. She was involved in the National Youth at Risk Initiative and toured the Soviet Union in 1990 in the U.S. design team for youth programs. She was Secretary (1965), 2nd and 1st Vice President (1973, 1974) and President (1975) of the New York State Association of Cooperative Extension 4-H Educators. She was active in the Northeast Agent Association, the National Association, and as State 4-H Leader representative on the National ECOP. She was dedicated to enhancing the capacity of the New York State 4-H Foundation to expand program resources.
