Mallory grew up in Hamilton,  but spent her summers in Norfolk County. Mallory graduated with a BA Geography from the University of Guelph where she was interested in tourist consumer concern of authenticity from a geographic lens. Her interest in rural areas was fostered within this time, and pushed her to pursue a M.Sc. Rural Planning & Development at the University of Guelph. Her current research interests focus on immigrant populations and experience within rural Ontario.