A Fort Worth, Texas native, Mary Ann McDuff, has made Denton, Texas her  home for over 40 years. McDuff retired as Director of Academic  Financial Services at Texas Woman’s University several years ago after more than 30 years of full-time service. For these past several years, she has immersed herself fully into fulfilling her retirement goal and dream – expansion of community engagement, activism, and service in the North Central Texas area through Rotary.
 
 
McDuff graduated from Western Hills High School in Fort Worth where she was recognized with the honor of First Class Girl Scout.  She earned a bachelor’s  degree in history, with a minor in education, and a master’s degree in sociology, with emphases in teaching and applied sociology and women’s studies,  from TWU. Beginning work as an administrative assistant in the division of Academic Affairs in 1981, she was named to a director’s position in 2000. She is a life member of the TWU Former Students Association.
 
A proud 22 year member of the Rotary Club of Denton, McDuff’s classification is Higher Education–Academic Services, Retired. She served as the Denton Rotary Club’s first female president from 1998-1999. Recently completing 15 years as the Denton Club’s Chair of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Committee, she led efforts to partner with educational, civic, and community groups to build a university centered program. The City of Denton is the home of RYLA for District 5790.
 
McDuff credits the beginning of her love affair with Rotary to her Group Study Exchange (GSE) experience and to PDG Paul Geisel, 1993-1994.  A member of  the GSE team to Southern Africa (South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland), District 5790 to 9250, she was immersed in university vocational experiences and observed firsthand the 1994 national election process in South Africa.
 
 
Honored to serve as District Governor for 2016-2017, McDuff claims many activities, responsibilities, and accomplishments in District 5790. These include Assistant Governor; District Trainer; Chair of Membership Development and Retention, RYLA, and Women’s Issues Committees; and PETS Discussion Leader and Facilitator and Strategic Planning Committee member.  She serves currently  on the District Foundation, Finance, and Strategic Planning Committees.
Recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, as well as the Club Builder Award, from the Rotary Club of Denton, McDuff has received also the Distinguished Service Award from the Rotary Club of Gainesville. Participating in numerous programs, training sessions, assemblies, seminars, and conferences throughout District 5790, she is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and Major Donor.
 
McDuff is an active member of the Denton County community, completing a full term of service (2008-2014) on the City of Denton Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC). During her two-year service as chair of this committee, McDuff worked for increased city funding for agencies assisting individuals in need, focusing on sustainability, human services development, and neighborhood empowerment. She held appointed membership on the City of  Denton  2014 Citizen Bond Committee, Leisure Services Subcommittee.
 
A life member of United Way, McDuff was campaign chair of the United Way of Denton County (UWDC) in 2007-2008, and was chair of the UWDC Board of Directors in 2009-2010. Prior to these offices and from 2003-2006, she was chair of a five-county area for the State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) with oversight for Cooke, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, and Montague counties.
Other community service affiliations include Serve Denton Board of Directors (charter member), Denton Benefit League, and Denton Parks and Recreation Foundation.
 
First United Methodist Church of Denton, located on the Historical Downtown Denton Square, is her church home.