Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Maria immigrated to the United States with her family in search of a
better future and education. Maria has devoted her career to working in the higher education sector,
with experience in the operations and management areas, beginning with her work in college
bookstores in both Florida and New York, and most recently as Associate Director of Finance and
Operations in the Division of Student Affairs at Hunter College.
In her previous role, she was responsible for managing budgets and financial operations of multiple
departments and programs, and collaborating with college staff and administrators to ensure that
operations obtained the necessary funds and resources to be able to meet the student’s and college’s
needs.
Throughout her career in higher education, she has obtained first-hand knowledge about the difficulties
that undocumented, immigrant, and underrepresented students experience traversing the system,
giving her a firm grasp on the day-to-day obstacles they have to overcome to succeed in their academic
and professional goals.
Maria holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch College – City University of New York,
and a Bachelor of Political Science from the University of Florida.