Stover guest shares stories from decades of political experience
From a young age, Mary Ann Meloy had no problem going against the status quo and defying the standards of social acceptability. Her persistence and resilience led to a successful political career with several administrations including a stint as the associate director of public liaison in the Reagan White House.
It is her drive and experience that intrigued Dr. Lawrence Stratton, director of the Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership, to invite Meloy to Waynesburg to speak with the Stover Scholars.
“Mrs. Meloy has decades of political experience going back to the Eisenhower campaign in the 50’s, through Nixon and Goldwater, Nixon again, and Reagan,” said Dr. Stratton. “Ultimately she was in the White House with Reagan, and the state government with the Thornburgh administration as a political consultant to many campaigns.”
Perhaps even more notable than her actual political career was the way in which it began. Growing up through the 40’s and 50’s, it simply was not common for women to become involved in the political sphere. One of the largest opponents to Meloy’s desire for a political career was her own father.
“Ladies don’t get involved in politics,” said Meloy of her father’s attitude.
Meloy even made a point to tell the Stover Scholars of her lies and fibs to her parents throughout her teenage years. Every weekend, she would tell her parents that she was going to volunteer at the American Red Cross. However, in actuality, she was helping out the Eisenhower campaign by stamping envelopes, running errands and doing whatever else necessary to become involved in the political world.
A couple of the female Stover Scholars in attendance appreciated the inspiration provided by Meloy through her experience in the political realm. Freshman philosophy major Addie Pazzynski, noted that Meloy is someone she looks up to and would strive to become.
“Mrs. Meloy exemplifies what it means to be a woman in leadership,” said Pazzynski. “She is classy, experienced, and she strives to educate future generations.”
Another Stover Scholar, Paige Carter, a freshman political science major, admired her drive to overcome the blatant stereotypes of women through her courageous action in the field. Meloy never took an opportunity for granted as she continued her career in politics through small steps. That patience is something many younger people need to notice and practice according to Carter.
“Every opportunity that she took led her into the next stage in her life,” said Carter. “And that is how she gained such a position of power, just by starting small, believing in what she was doing, and that carried her through.”
Carter went on to state how Meloy’s career, and the steps that she took will inspire her own journey as she tries to make it into a very cutthroat sphere in politics.
“Going into law is kind of condoned against because there are so many people going into law these days,” said Carter. “It’s definitely a risk to be pursuing any position of power right now. She inspired me in the sense that she started just like I am, and she got somewhere that I desperately would love to be.”
Meloy closed her speech with some powerful words for the Stover Scholars.
“You never take no for an answer.”