Mara is a professor of education at Bates College. Her research centers on racial and educational equity in rural schools and communities. Her recently published book—Educated Out: How Rural Students Navigate Elite Colleges and What it Costs Them—focuses on the college experiences of rural, first-generation students. Her previous book Why Rural Schools Matter examines how rural schools create community and shape the racial landscapes of these towns. She is currently working on a project that examines the impacts of school closure on rural Black communities. Mara also writes about rural demographics, race and rural politics, and community organizing for education reform. Before receiving her doctorate, she taught in rural Tennessee.