Mary McGehee earned her Ph.D. in sociology at Texas A&M in 2001. From the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, she earned an M.A. in gerontology and two B. A.’s, one in computer science and the other in accounting.  She currently serves as the Manager of the Survey Research Unit, Arkansas Department of Health and has published eight referred journal articles and several book chapters. She is a long-time member of the Southern Demographic Association and has research interests in medical sociology and the health of rural populations