• Ph.D. Candidate, Environmental Sciences and Policy, Central European University, 2014
• J.D., University of Minnesota School of Law, 1996
• M.S., Natural Resources Management, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1990
• B.A., Political Science, University of California Berkeley, 1986

Before joining the UAA faculty, Mara practiced law and co-founded the Alaska Institute for Justice – Alaska’s only non-profit agency providing low cost immigration legal services, language access services and research and policy analysis on issues impacting human rights in Alaska. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mara worked with Alaska Native tribes on environmental governance issues. In addition to her doctoral candidacy, Mara holds a bachelor’s degree (Political Science) from the University of California, a master’s degree (Natural Resources Management) from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.