Mara Cohen Marks

Los Angeles

Becoming a mother has made me more reflective as a writer. My stories come from my personal experience. -- Stories about growing up with a brother who was disabled. Stories about the unexpected joys of parenting. Stories about the pleasures of the flesh and about stumbling through life in 4-inch heels.​

You can read some of my essays and commentaries in The Hairpin, LA Daily News, New America Media, LA Business Journal and elsewhere.​

I first realized my passion for personal stories as a professor of urban studies at Loyola Marymount University. In my research and teaching, I found myself drawn to people's stories -- those of folks I met in ​the communities I studied and of the many students I taught over the years. You can check out a list of some of my academic publications here.

I'm a senior fellow at the Leavey Center at Loyola Marymount University, a board member of a community organization called One LA and an alumni ambassador for the OpEd Project.

I live in Los Angeles with my husband and our daughter.​

  • Work
    • Writer and Political Scientist
  • Education
    • Ph.D. UCLA
    • B.A. Colorado College