Mary Newlyn ’17 chose Shenandoah University for her undergraduate studies because of her deep family ties to the campus. Growing up on Shenandoah’s grounds, with her grandfather starting the Political Science department and her mother working as a resident director, Newlyn felt a strong connection to the university and decided it was the perfect place to pursue her education.
Some of Newlyn’s fondest memories were of the discussions she and her classmates had about her coursework in political philosophy with Professor of Political Science Eric Leonard, Ph.D., and the civil war courses she took with the Director of the McCormick Civil War Institute Jonathan Noyalas ’01, M.A.
After earning her undergraduate degree, Newlyn went on to earn a Master of Arts in Human Rights Practice from the University of Arizona in 2020. Currently, Newlyn is the executive director of Hope in Action Alliance, where she serves as West Virginia’s state coalition for mental health and substance use disorder. In this role, she connects community sectors across the state to coordinate innovative initiatives. Prior to this role, Newlyn served as a prevention specialist and coalition coordinator for the Loudoun County Government. She also served as an accessibility services coordinator/Title IX investigator at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College and a victim advocate and community coordinator at Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center.
In recognition of her leadership and dedication, Newlyn was chosen as a fellow of the Appalachian Regional Commission Leadership Institute for the class of 2023-2024. Fellows are selected by their state’s governor, highlighting her impact and commitment to community wellness.
Newlyn’s career has been devoted to creating environments where marginalized communities have the opportunity to thrive. She enjoys growing organizations and coalitions by developing them to be more efficient, effective and inclusive.
During her time at Shenandoah, Newlyn was actively involved in work-study programs and internships, which she credits as essential in preparing her for her career. These experiences provided her with valuable skills in communication, marketing and operationalizing ideas, which she has since applied to her work in human rights and community development.
“You will get out what you put into your experience at Shenandoah,” said Newlyn. “If you network and prioritize internships and work-study opportunities, you will have a solid resume when you graduate.”
Mary’s advice to current and future students is to “Be curious…I had numerous interests and did not know how they connected or what keywords to use when searching for employment [until working with Career Services during my senior capstone].”