Mary P. Easley | |
|---|---|
 Easley at her husband's inauguration as Governor in 2001 | |
| First Lady of North Carolina | |
| In role January 6, 2001 – January 10, 2009 | |
| Governor | Mike Easley |
| Preceded by | Carolyn Hunt |
| Succeeded by | Bob Eaves (as First Gentleman) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mary Pipines |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mike Easley |
| Children | Michael F. Easley Jr. |
| Parent(s) | James Pipines Ann Pipines |
| Alma mater | Wake Forest University (BA, JD) |
| Occupation | attorney, professor, academic administrator |
Mary Pipines Easley is an American attorney, academic, and former university administrator who, as the wife of Governor Mike Easley, served as First Lady of North Carolina from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the first woman to maintain her own career while serving as first lady, and also the first Catholic and first Greek American to serve in this position.
As first lady, Easley championed educational, artistic, and public health initiatives in North Carolina. She focused on promoting childhood immunization, access to public libraries, and teacher recruitment across the state. An avid arts patron, she partnered with the North Carolina Museum of Art to help procure funding and bring in international exhibits, including exhibits on Monet and Auguste Rodin. Prior to serving as first lady, Easley was one of the first women to serve as an assistant district attorney in eastern North Carolina.
She served on the faculty at both North Carolina Central University and North Carolina State University, teaching law, police management, and running a public safety center. In 2009 she and her husband became the subjects of a financial scandal regarding the misuse of campaign funds. She was later fired from North Carolina State University after it was revealed that she had obtained her job, with an annual salary of $175,000, with the help of her husband's influence as governor.