Mary Ann Chang

Mary Ann Chang, Friendcraft Director and Co-Founder, was born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She holds a BA in psychology from the University of Maryland and an MA in psychology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Keenly interested in personal growth and development since her teens, she began coordinating programs and giving presentations on these topics both on and off campus while still an undergraduate. To broaden her experience, she worked in various paid and volunteer positions with child, adolescent and adult populations in developmental and mental health facilities. She also visited with founders and leaders of intentional communities to discover what factors were key to their success or, in some cases, their decline. Through these experiences she realized that her calling was to help people accomplish their goals, achieve their potential, and realize a happy and fulfilling life with others.

While attending graduate school and continuing to teach and conduct personal development programs part-time, Mary Ann began working full-time in government service. She completed her Masters program in 1980 and in 1981 met and married her husband Tom, who is from Taiwan. In 1984 she gave birth to their son, Eric. She has continued in her government career, pursuing her avocation of teaching and helping others achieve their goals and happiness in life when life’s busy schedule has permitted the time.

When her son entered college, Mary Ann found herself with a renewed desire – as well as the time – to return to her beloved work of teaching and helping others realize happiness in their lives though personal growth and fulfilling relationships. Bringing with her her experience as a teacher, public speaker, program developer, newspaper columnist and radio talk show guest, she now works with the UIOF to help people find fulfillment in their lives and happiness through their friendships. She lives in Northern Virginia, USA, with her husband Tom and son Eric.