Mary Kate Cary Recognized for Advancing Free Speech in Higher Education

Mary Kate Cary, an instructor in the department of politics at the University of Virginia, has been honored with the 2024 Leadership Award from the Heterodox Academy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the principles of open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement in higher education and academic research.

At the University of Virginia, Cary serves as the founding director of Think Again, an initiative to protect and promote free speech, critical thinking, viewpoint diversity, and intellectual humility among students on campus. The initiative is housed within the university’s Karsh Institute of Democracy and is led by a group of interdisciplinary faculty members in politics, law, and sociology.

Cary has a significant background in political journalism and speechwriting. From 1989 to 1992, she served as President George H.W. Bush’s speechwriter, authoring more than 100 of his presidential addresses. Earlier in her career, she served as the deputy director of communications for the United States Department of Justice. In addition to her role at the University of Virginia, she currently serves as a political commentator for CTV News and NPR, while continuing her work as a professional speechwriter for political leaders and business executives.

Cary holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Virginia.