As the digital communications specialist, Mary Stuart Gray strives to champion the Morehead-Cain brand and digital presence, and spotlight the vibrant stories, initiatives, and relationships that are at the heart of the Program.
Before joining the Foundation in the fall of 2024, Mary Stuart’s experience in strategic marketing and communications ranged from nonprofits, startups, and ministries to the healthcare and tech industries. Her zeal for education-adjacent work is rooted in her time in K–12 independent school communications, where she served as a communications associate (and, equally importantly, student mentor, elementary-school lunch buddy, and trip chaperone) at Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. From this experience, Mary Stuart developed a deep appreciation for the ways in which thoughtful communications drive real-world impact. From crafting engaging campaigns to managing digital platforms, she enjoys the opportunity to use media-based storytelling to highlight the missions of purpose-driven institutions.
A proud UNC–Chapel Hill alumna, Mary Stuart earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and media with a minor in entrepreneurship. The Atlanta native resides in Raleigh with her very mischievous cat, Winky. In addition to a digital media nerd, she considers herself an avid bookworm, Survivor enthusiast, Braves fan, adrenaline junkie, and word puzzler. Ask her about the time she rode an ostrich or her latest personal record in the New York Times’s Daily Mini Crossword Puzzle.