Maria is the mother of a four-year old boy who graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California – Irvine and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Texas. Maria chose to study psychology to help others who have gone through trauma heal and become the best version of themselves. Maria has held several professional positions in which she provided behavioral and role modeling support to youth and their caregivers. Maria was a peer life coach at the University of California – Irvine’s campus counseling center and a Dream Scholars peer mentor. She currently serves as the co-president of the Latinx Student Psychological Association and volunteers at Haven Women’s Center, which provides supports to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking. During her undergraduate studies, Maria conducted qualitative research on the persistence of Latina undergraduate single mothers using a strengths-based approach. Maria’s motivation for working in academia and the community include racial justice, cultural sensitivity, and accessibility to needed resources.
