Mary Elizabeth Himes

Mary Elizabeth is a Southern California native who has resided on Whidbey Island since 2017.
She is a business owner and an active member of the Whidbey Island community, having served
four years on the Oak Harbor Arts Commission and a current board member of the Oak Harbor
Music Festival. She is a graduate of the Leadership Whidbey cohort and currently serves as a
member of its curriculum Committee. She is an active member of the African American Writers
Alliance of Seattle and Black Women Write Seattle.

Mary Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Media and
Culture from Chapman University. She is the owner of A Poet on Whidbey and Mama Bear
Insurance Services, LLC as well as an independent consultant using her expertise as a manager,
writer and public speaker.

In December 2024 she was named the Inaugural Poet Laureate of the Whidbey Institute and
works with local businesses organizations to create space for local community to have poetry
readings to enhance creativity and connection.