Mara earned a B.A. in American Studies from Yale while reporting on the relationship between New Haven and the university as a student journalist. As a health educator and peer mentor, they worked to build a strong LGBTQ community on campus. Recently, Mara reported on the dynamic changes in nursing homes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as an investigative reporting intern at the Sacramento Bee. Mara hopes to use their time as a Coro Fellow to combine their passion for writing and reporting with their commitment to public service. Mara grew up in Chicago. They are an avid cook.