Mary Ann, a certified association executive, served as chief staff officer of two not-for-profit associations, the Radiological Society of North America and the National Student Nurses Association. 

She served on boards of the American Society of Association Executives; the New York Society of Association Executives, and national accreditation/certification commissions.  She currently serves on the Boards for Alzheimer’s Disease Center of Northwestern University School of Medicine; American Friends of Hebrew University; NSNA Foundation; Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education; Illinois Nurses Association Foundation; and President’s Council for School of Nursing, Saint Xavier University.

Her achievements have been honored by the New York Society of Association Executives with the first Outstanding Association Executive Award, by the NSNA, which established The Mary Ann Tuft Scholarship Fund, her College as a Distinguished Alumna, and by Sigma Theta Tau International as an honorary member.