Born and raised in New Jersey, Maria moved to Bocas del Toro, a Caribbean archipelago in Panama, after earning a B.A. in International Development from the University of Richmond. Living on Isla Colon, she worked for a youth development nonprofit, where she learned Spanish, program building, and grant writing. She also learned to SCUBA dive and saw first-hand how climate change threatens coastal communities and the coral reef ecosystems they depend on for their economy and enjoyment.
Maria joined CORAL in 2022 and has grown with the organization through several roles. As Philanthropy Manager, she leads major donor fundraising and shapes campaign strategy, working closely with the marketing team to share the story of CORAL’s marine conservation work. She also manages CORAL Connections events, bringing supporters face-to-face with the reefs they help protect. Maria is a PADI Divemaster, an avid Kindle reader, and a lover of all breakfast foods (specifically cinnamon buns). She runs on coffee.
The sea is as near as we come to another world.
Anne Stevenson