Maria has been teaching at Penn since 2002 and is currently the Associate Director for Undergraduate Programs in Earth & Environmental Science (EES). Maria teaches graduate-level courses for the Master of Science in Applied Geosciences (MSAG) program, including Aqueous Geochemistry and Fundamentals of Air Pollution. She also teaches two undergraduate courses: a junior thesis seminar and Air Pollution: Sources and Effects in Urban Environments. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Rutgers University and a Master of Science in engineering geology from Drexel University. Maria's professional experience in the environmental field ranges from applications of analytical air, soil, and water chemistry to multiple facets of environmental consulting. Her focus of interest has been the behavior and interaction of inorganic and organic pollutants in the environment. Maria’s interest in environmental issues has led her to engage with local and international communities. She is currently serving as a faculty advisor for Penn Engineers Without Borders (EWB), where she works with students in sanitation and water access projects in rural Guatemala.
