Maria is a married mother of two beautiful girls. Growing up, she always knew she wanted to work in the area of law. She initially wanted to be a law enforcement officer and obtained her Associates of Art in Administrative Justice from Gavilan College. She then went on to pursue her bachelor's degree in Justice Studies at San Jose State. However, as she had a growing family, when she became pregnant with her second daughter, she realized that law enforcement was not a viable option due to its demanding work schedule. Instead, she looked into becoming a paralegal and obtained another AA degree and Paralegal Certificate from De Anza College.

During her last few months at De Anza, Maria learned about the Step Forward Foundation. The organization caught her attention as it offered both types of law that had sparked her interest, as well as providing support to the community. Maria has always been passionate about helping others, particularly as an immigrant herself and she knew that working with the foundation would allow her to make a difference for immigrants who, like her family, left everything behind for a better life. She also wants to set an example for her daughters. The best thing about it is that the foundation is located in her own community. Maria grew up in Gilroy, but also lived in Morgan Hill for two years and both towns have always been her home. She has always been a part of this community.