Mary Harding is a seventh generation Nebraskan. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln with a degree in Bilingual Education and completed graduate work at the University of Colorado in Boulder in sociolinguistics. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Nebraska League of Conservation Voters. Harding and her husband, Richard Erickson, operate a residential rental property business in Lincoln. Previously, Harding was the Executive Director of the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund and served as legislative representative for manufacturers, retailers, agricultural production organizations and environmental/public interest groups. Harding and her husband have four grown children.