María is the Assistant Director of Education Development, where she creates educational programs that promote leadership, service, belonging, and experiential learning for students, while supporting faculty and staff with professional development initiatives.

Before stepping into this role, she worked in UT’s Division for Student Life as well as at Wake Forest University.

Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, María holds a bachelor’s degree in modern foreign languages and literature from UT and a master’s degree in higher education from Florida State University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in higher education administration at UT.

In her free time, María enjoys traveling, baking, singing with the Knoxville Choral Society, and spending time with her family and cat, Luna.