Mary Poffenroth is an adjunct professor of biology at San Jose State University. She holds a master's degree in biological sciences from same. Apart from hosting Mahalo videos, Poffenroth writes, produces and hosts her own short films. One such film received two honorable mentions at the 2010 International Wildlife Film Festival and her videos also appear in the 2011 edition of the Wiley International college textbook. "I want to make deceptively educational videos," she says, "that will both entertain and inspire."