Maria, one of three Winthrop alums in the department, was hired as Director of Institutional Research in 2022. She is charged with setting the direction for the Office of IR in its mission to provide accurate institutional data and analysis to support the institution’s overall effectiveness. Maria’s prior experience includes working as a Research Specialist at Rock Hill School District as well as serving in a variety of roles at Winthrop, including Director of Decision Support, Academic Space & Scheduling Coordinator, and Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Her teaching experience includes WRIT 101 Composition and ACAD 101 Principles of the Learning Academy. Maria holds a B.A. in English and a Master of Liberal Arts degree, is a member of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), the Southern Association for Institutional Research (SAIR), and the South Carolina Association for Institutional Research (SCAIR) and served as president of Winthrop’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society. Her hobbies include writing, collage, tennis, and yoga.