About

Dr. Mary J. Ruwart received her B.S. in biochemistry in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1974 (both from Michigan State University). She then joined the Department of Surgery at St. Louis University where she became an Assistant Professor. Dr. Ruwart came to The Upjohn Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1976 as a Senior Research Scientist involved in developing new therapies for a variety of diseases, including AIDS.

Dr. Ruwart left Upjohn in 1995 to devote her time to consulting and writing. With her husband, Raymond R. Carr, R.Ph., Dr. Ruwart designed and delivered a communications course for scientists, covering written, oral, and poster presentations. She also provides consulting services for nutraceutical companies, CROs, and IRBs.

Since 1982, Dr. Ruwart has been a libertarian activist. In 1983, she was a member of the Libertarian Party’s platform committee. She came to the national convention as a delegate in that same year and became an overnight sensation by running for President of the United States, coming in third in a field of seven. Dr. Ruwart continued her activities as Chair of Internal Education (1988-89); runner-up for Kalamazoo City Commission (1983); Chair, Kalamazoo County Libertarian Party (1985); Libertarian candidate for County Commission (1982,1987); and Libertarian candidate for State Representative (1986). She was also a Libertarian candidate for State Board of Education and was endorsed for that office by The Detroit News in 1990 for her unwavering support of educational choice. Her vote total in that year kept the Libertarian Party on the ballot in Michigan for 1992, when she ran again for State Board.

After relocating to Kentucky in 1996, Dr. Ruwart served as campaign manager for a local Libertarian candidate for sheriff. After moving to Texas, she challenged Kay Bailey Hutchinson for her Senate seat in 2002. In 2008, Dr. Ruwart and her husband became active in the Ron Paul for President campaign.

During her time in Kalamazoo, Dr. Ruwart was a regular guest lecturer in local high school and university political science classes, where she shared the libertarian message. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Individual Liberty, and has served in a similar capacity for Heartland (Michigan Chapter) and the Fully Informed Jury Amendment Association (FIJA). Her Internet column, “Short Answers to the Tough Questions” is a popular feature of the Advocates for Self-Government web site.

Dr. Ruwart has worked extensively with the poor through her decade-long efforts to rehabilitate low-income housing in the Kalamazoo area. She was also an active member of the Kalamazoo Rainforest Action Committee and has been profiled in American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in Science and Technology, World Who's Who of Women, International Leaders of Achievement, Who's Who of American Women, Community Leaders of North America and several other prestigious biographical works.

Dr. Ruwart may be best known for her book about political freedom of choice, currently in its third edition -- Healing Our World in an Age of Aggression. A review in Visions Magazine claimed that Healing might be "the most important book of the decade." Healing has been translated into Russian, Serbian, Lithuanian, and Romanian.

The original (1992) edition of Healing Our World benefited greatly from Dr. Ruwart’s sister, Martie, who provided extensive editorial critique. In 1993, Martie was diagnosed with terminal cancer and became one of Dr. Kevorkian's patients. In memory of her sister, Dr. Ruwart shares her story with those interested in right to die issues.

Paid for by the Mary Ruwart for President Committee.