Mary Owen-Thomas is a National Peace Corps Association board member, representing the Midwest region and based in Chicago. Mary served in the Peace Corps in the Philippines and is also a proud Filipino American. Currently, she manages public affairs for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s Chicago Regional Office. Previously, she was communications manager for Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) in Chicago. Prior to working in communications, Mary spent about 15 years as a journalist and digital content producer at the Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press and ABC7-TV. In addition, she has served as a consultant on projects with the United Nations Development Programme, Global Health Run and Global Press Journal. A Detroit native, Mary earned a BA in political science from Michigan State University and an MPA from Indiana University Northwest.