Since joining VOA Special English in 2001, Mario has written hundreds of radio features on economics, agriculture, science and the arts. He produces features, helps edit the VOA Special English Web site, and writes and edits news. He also announces feature programs and news.
He graduated in 1994 from West Virginia University, where he studied English and journalism. He received a master's in comparative literature from Indiana University in 1999.
Mario is married to Yaxue Cao, who writes fiction and translates Chinese for the public and private sectors. They live with their daughter, Atalanta, in Washington, D.C.