Maria Mayorga (she/her/ella) was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua. She emigrated to Asheboro, North Carolina as a teenager in 2003. With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit management, she is passionate about access to higher education for first generation and Latinx youth. Throughout her career Maria has worked on various electoral, education, immigration and direct services efforts with organizations like the Latino Coalition of Randolph County, NC Cooperative Extension of Randolph County, YWCA High Point Latino Family Center, Hispanic Federation and Blueprint NC. As a DACA beneficiary, Maria’s commitment to higher education and in-state tuition extends to her service as Chair of the Adelante Education Coalition. Through her unwavering commitment to leadership development, she has played a leading role in the formation of the Triad-based grassroots group Fuerza Latina Unida para Triunfar (FLUT) and the Latina Leadership Institute (LLI). Maria currently serves as Adelante’s co-chair.

Maria has completed several state, national and international fellowships such as: Dream Lead Institute for DACAmented professionals, Systemic Change Design Cohort with the United Way of the Greater Triangle, New Leaders Council, Scholar Fund’s Cultural Leadership Fellowship and HIP Líderes. She has been recognized as a Notable Latina of the Triad by the Latino Community Coalition of Guilford County, a Defender of Justice by the NC Justice Center and AMEXCAN’s Exemplary Advocacy Partner. Maria has had the privilege of serving on several local nonprofit boards, including Guilford Child Development, Guilford Partnership for Children, Sunrise-Amanecer, FaithAction, and Welfare Reform Liaison Project.