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Mary Boucher ’25
Mary Boucher ’25 is taking what she learned at Furman to law school after graduation. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University
As Mary Boucher ’25 approaches graduation, she reflects on four years filled with academic excellence, campus leadership and a deep commitment to her alma mater. A first-generation college student from Camden, South Carolina, Boucher has fully embraced Furman’s opportunities, setting herself up for an impressive legal career.
Boucher is a double major in English and psychology, a combination that has sharpened both her analytical and research skills. Her passion for learning led her to research opportunities in both fields, earning prestigious fellowships along the way. She spent the summer after her first year studying memory and cognition in psychology while also working on a project analyzing mind-body connection in early medical science. Her dedication resulted in an invitation to present her research at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Wisconsin.
Beyond academics, Boucher embraced a full campus life at Furman. A dedicated member of the Furman cheer team, she had the unforgettable opportunity to cheer at the NCAA men’s basketball tournament when Furman upset Virginia in 2023. She also served as president of the Psychology Club, held campus jobs in the Athletics department and was a barista at Starbucks, all while maintaining an active role with her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.
She worked with the Greenville County Public Defender’s Office, and later interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, exploring the federal side of criminal law.
“My research and internships weren’t just résumé builders,” Boucher said, “they shaped the way I see my career.”
A strong advocate for first-generation students, Boucher credits the Hearst Fellows Program and supportive faculty members for helping her navigate college. Thanks to her determination and Furman’s resources, she secured a full scholarship to the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, where she will be a Carolina Law Research Scholar.
Boucher leaves Furman having fulfilled the promise she made to her mother years ago – that Furman would be the best place to prepare her for law school and that she would work hard enough to graduate debt free. She accomplished that, and with her drive and passion for justice, she is poised to make a profound impact on the legal world.