Mary Ann Cortese is a 2013 graduate of Queen of the Rosary School and 2017 graduate of Saint Viator High School. With a calling to pursue Catholic higher education, Mary Ann attended Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio and recently graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in International Business.
While at Franciscan, Mary Ann served on student government as Vice-President of a Free Enterprise club and partook in Franciscan’s Center for Leadership Program with the mission to cultivate effective lifelong Christian leaders. With a passion for travel and mission, Mary Ann served in Lima, Peru with Franciscan Lay Missionaries and was able to participate in a Christian-Jewish immersion program in the Holy Land her sophomore year at Franciscan. While also an undergraduate, she was able to partake in the First Liberty Fellowship in Washington, D.C., an exclusive leadership program equipping rising leaders to advocate religious freedom.
With an interest in the areas of public policy, law, faith and international relations, Mary Ann was recently able to complete an extended associateship program through Americans for Tax Reform in Washington, D.C. During undergrad, MaryAnn was also given the opportunity to intern in the American Fellowship at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. as well.
Currently, Mary Ann is partaking in a fellowship at the John Jay Institute in Philadelphia. With the mission to build the future of American leadership, the John Jay Institute is dedicated to equipping the next generation of Christian leaders in public service. With a passion for classical, Catholic education, this fellowship has allowed Mary Ann to grow in her Catholic faith both spiritually and intellectually.