On the first day of the Election 2024 class at the University of Virginia, Professor Mary Kate Cary remarked that her political hero is George H.W. Bush. As I learned during my interview with her, this admiration is rooted in her experience as a political communications strategist and speechwriter for Bush, a role she assumed after graduating from UVA in 1985.

Currently, Professor Cary is an adjunct professor in the University of Virginia’s Department of Politics. She teaches classes on Political Speechwriting, the Greatest Speeches in American Political History, and the 2024 Presidential Election. On Grounds, Cary is also the director of “Think Again at UVA,” which hosts student events and workshops to promote free speech, viewpoint diversity, critical thinking, and intellectual humility. 

Professor Cary began shaping her career here on grounds. During her four years as an undergraduate at UVA, Cary was just like us — involved in Greek life with Pi Beta Phi, lived on the Lawn, acted as an Honor Advisor, and wrote for the University Journal and the Cavalier Daily. As a columnist for the University Journal, an underground conservative paper, Cary found her passion for the intersection of politics and writing. 

When asked if her education at UVA helped prepare her career in speechwriting, Cary shares a story from her favorite class, News Writing.

“The University Spokesman at the time was Bill Fishback, who was a former reporter at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, [he] taught the class, ‘News Writing.’ His classroom had two tables with five old-fashioned electric typewriters, pads of paper to take notes, and no textbook. There were only ten students and it was held for an hour and a half, twice a week. Fishback would start class by saying, ‘There was a fire last night and I was the fire chief. Do you have any questions?’ and we would have a fake press conference for 45 minutes and have the rest of class time to immediately write an article. It was a hard class, but I learned how to write quickly, accurately, on a deadline, and without paying the costs of textbooks or having homework.”

Cary notes that when she began applying for jobs, no one asked for her GPA or transcripts — only writing samples. Her skills led her to work as a speechwriter for George H.W. Bush, and she later transitioned into corporate speech writing. When asked about the most challenging aspect of her early career, Cary cites her age. 

At just 27, she left the White House Office to work in corporate speech writing, where being taken seriously proved difficult. On several occasions, when she requested meetings with CEOs before drafting their speeches, their secretaries would consistently claim they were busy. Cary soon realized this was due to her young age, prompting her to learn how to stand up for herself. Reflecting on these experiences, Cary described her position as a female conservative writer as being “like a unicorn”.

Though becoming a professor at UVA might have seemed unlikely, Professor Cary's strong connections to the university—serving on the College Foundation Board and fundraising for the College, with her two daughters also studying as undergraduates—kept her closely tied to the institution.

It was during one of these board meetings that Dean Baucom approached her to teach speechwriting. “How do you teach something nobody taught you?” she responded. Cary notes that speechwriting was something she fell into due to her skill set, not formal instruction. She decided to take on this challenge and began teaching a political speech writing class entitled Democracy Out Loud and The Greatest Political Speeches in American History. Her goal was to teach students the nuts and bolts of effective communication, explaining what worked and what didn’t work. Cary believes that recent presidents like Trump and Biden haven’t delivered truly memorable speeches, leaving a gap in students’ exposure to powerful and impactful speech. Her goal is to fill this gap by exposing students to historic speeches that shaped the nation, inspiring them to believe that their voice, too, can make a difference. 

Aside from political speech classes, Cary also co-teaches one of the only bipartisan classes in the country at the University of Virginia. First launched as Election 2020 and featured in USA Today, this course—now titled Election 2024—is co-taught with Jennifer Lawless. A liberal professor who ran as a Democrat in the 2006 congressional election in Rhode Island, Lawless brings together students from across the political spectrum.

Cary’s commitment to bipartisan collaboration is rooted in her career with President George H.W. Bush. Upon taking office, Bush’s first action was to visit Senate Majority Robert Byrd’s office on Capitol Hill, rather than summoning leaders to the White House — a gesture symbolizing his dedication to bipartisanship. This unusual approach, often referred to as the “age of the offered hand,” highlighted Bush’s intent to prioritize collaboration across the political aisle throughout his presidency. With Democrats controlling both the House and the Senate during his term, Bush successfully navigated this challenging political landscape to pass significant bipartisan legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act. Inspired by this spirit of collaboration, Cary strives to bring similar bipartisan engagement into her classroom. 

Cary hoped this approach would inspire other UVA courses—especially in politics—to adopt co-teaching. However, this election class remains one-of-a-kind. Similarly, other universities have not implemented classes co-taught by professors, making this course a rare example of bipartisan education. 

Looking back at her time at UVA, Professor Cary recalls the unwavering support that carried her through challenging moments. Her most memorable experience came during her fourth year while she was living on the Lawn. During this time, Carey was working two jobs and relying on financial aid, struggling to afford essentials like textbooks and food. Cary juggled roles at Clemons Library’s front desk and the complaint desk at Roses, a local store, all while coping with financial strain due to her parents’ bankruptcy. As winter break approached, she realized she couldn’t make ends meet for the upcoming semester and feared she might have to leave UVA. In a moment of desperation, Cary turned to the 7 Society, leaving a note in the hand of the Thomas Jefferson statue in the Rotunda, asking for a loan.

To her surprise, the 7 Society responded just three days later—not with a loan, but a gift that covered her needs and allowed her to remain at UVA. Deeply moved, Cary resolved never to disappoint the 7s, later repaying the gift with 7% interest. She credits this remarkable support with enabling her to not only complete her education, but also lead a career at the White House, meet her husband at UVA Law, and ultimately teach at her alma mater.