Maria graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2011. She was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but moved to Breckenridge, CO in 2003. Prior to completing her studies in South West Florida, Maria worked in the Hospitality industry in Breckenridge, CO and Longboat Key, FL. In 2004, Maria was recognized as Vail Resorts associate of the year. Maria completed her Masters studies under the direction of her mentors Dr. Susan De Long and Dr. Tom Sale. On July 2013, she defended her Master’s Thesis, “Biogeochemical Characterization of a LNAPL Body in Support of STELA”. She is now part of the research team at the Center for Contaminant Hydrology (CCH) at CSU.