Mary Hirsch grew up and attended public schools in Portland, Oregon. She received a BA at Carleton College in Minnesota and became interested in Chinese culture while working with foreign students in San Francisco. In the intervening years she earned a MA in Chinese Literature at the University of Washington. She has lectured on the history and culture of China at the College of New Jersey, at international conferences, and most recently at First Saturday PDX. While at the Seattle Asian Art Museum she prepared exhibitions and worked with educators and school groups to increase involvement and appreciation of art. A fascination with traditional Chinese shadow theater led her to curate the collection at Princeton University. She continues researching and translating plays.

In 2009 she returned to the city and since the Fall of 2019 has been a member of the Youth Programs Advisory Council. Many years ago while tutoring adult non-readers she recognized the life changing power of the written word. She sees the mission of Literary Arts as a welcome way of expanding lives and benefiting individuals and their communities.