Maria loves trash! She is on the environmental planning track with a particular focus on solid waste management. Her Master's project is on identifying and improving the vital connection between solid waste management and the planning process. She has experience working on two research projects with the Mineta Transportation Institute and is currently a Temporary Environmental Specialist with the City of Fremont Environmental Services Division. 

Maria fulfills her interests by hiking, camping, playing ukulele and guitar, painting, watching movies, cooking and eating, reading, dancing, and traveling. She also loves to volunteer her time with the East Bay Regional Park District as a docent, with RockMed as a medical aide at Bay Area concerts, and other outdoor education facilities as a naturalist.