Maria has served the State of Georgia since 2005 and has worked at the Department of Community Supervision since its inception in 2015. Prior to her career with DCS, she worked at the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Office of the Georgia Secretary of State.

Among her professional accomplishments, she is President of the Georgia Professional Association of Community Supervision.

Maria holds a Doctorate in Criminal Justice from Walden University, two Master’s degrees — one from Walden University and one from Capella University, and a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Mercer University. Maria is a Senior POST Certified Instructor, Certified Facilitator of several evidence-based programs, and is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor II. Maria has completed the University of Georgia’s grant writing program and multiple grant management programs from Management Concepts.