Academic Interests
Maria checked out the maximum number of books her library allowed each week as a child since she discovered the world through reading. She always knew that she wanted to do two things with her life: be a teacher like her parents and write.
Over the years she has followed her interests in her classes - from postmodern art history to the transcripts of the hearings investigating the sinking of the Titanic. She is particularly knowledgeable about the work of John Steinbeck, thanks to the NEH institutes she coordinated. Currently, her favorite pastime is reading at least one farming memoir each spring.
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From second to seventh grade, Maria wrote a book a year that were presented in the county's Young Author's Faire. Her first published essay was in second grade in TIME Magazine for Kids on the power of public education. She hasn't stopped writing and studying since.
Education
M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction
Saint Mary's College of California, Moraga, CA
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Thesis: "The Slovenian Way," Flash essay about my paternal relatives and their immigrant enclave in San Francisco, CA.
Advisor: Marilyn Abildskov
Second Reader: Lesley Tenorio
M.A. in English and Comparative Literature
San José State University, San José, CA
B.A. in English, Minors in Art History and Theology (summa cum laude)
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
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Honors Program Thesis: "Night of A Nueva Luna: Isabel Allende's feminist update of Arabian Nights in Eva Luna and Stories of Eva Luna"
Advisor: Dr. Juan Mah Yy Busch (English)
Second Reader: Christine Cao (Women's Studies)
Community Education
Master Gardener
The UC Master Gardener program's mission is to extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to Santa Clara County residents. There are Master Gardener programs in every state and several countries worldwide.
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Santa Clara County volunteers complete a 16-week, 60+ hour training program in home horticulture and remain certified on a yearly basis.
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Maria completed the training in May 2025 as a member of the "Wild Thymes" cohort.
Letterpress
Sponsored by SCU's Center for Art and Humanities, Maria completed the Letterpress Cylinder Core Certificate Program at the San Francisco Center for the Book in August 2022.
She has participated yearly in letterpress programming at SCU.
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Spiritual Direction
Maria participated in "The Ignatian Adventure: 31 Week Spiritual Exercises Retreat" in the 2021-2022 school year. She met for weekly individual spiritual direction with Valerie Enright offered through SCU’s Alumni Office. The program followed the guide offered in Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ’s The Ignatian Adventure and attended monthly group Zoom workshops with theologians.