As the Selection and Programs Coordinator, Maria directly supports the Director of Scholarships and Foundation Programs and joins a team working on developing the Boettcher Scholarship Program. Her role entails both aiding in the selection of new Scholars and continuing the investment in the Foundation’s current Scholars.

Before joining the team, Maria spent time at YouthRoots promoting youth philanthropy, Make-A-Wish Colorado as a Wish Granter (what she calls her “Fairy Godmother era”), and the African Community Center supporting newly arrived Middle Eastern refugees during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond her passion for nonprofit work, Maria’s position as a 2018 Scholar led her back to Boettcher. The Foundation’s generosity allowed her to attend the University of Colorado Boulder, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, followed by a Master’s in Learning Sciences and Human Development.

When she’s not working, Maria can be found hammocking with a book, cooking something new, or going on trips with no itinerary!