Maria is a visual artist and early childhood educator with over 20 years of experience as a university professor, guest artist, lecturer, and early educational leader. From 2008 to 2016, Maria served as the pedagogical director of aeioTU, leading the creation of the aeioTU Educational Experience, inspired by the educational philosophy of Reggio Emilia, which was nominated for the WISE award.

Passionate about art, the culture of childhood, and pedagogy as instruments for child development, Maria has been the executive director of aeioTU since 2017. She ensures educational quality, develops innovations, and leads the implementation of strategies for scale, sustainability, and social impact.