Maria Garza-Cienfuegos: Diverse alumna
Director for International and Diversity Admission, Saint Mary's University
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Alum
Maria was born in Mexico, the eldest child in a first-generation immigrant family. Prior to coming to the U.S., Maria earned a B.S. in Special Education, taught math and Spanish to grade school children with learning disabilities, and directed a Special Education School.
Maria moved to Minnesota in the fall of 1990. At that time, she joined the ESL program at Saint Mary's University (SMU). She started from the beginning as an ESL student and eventually acquired a position as a SMU De LaSalle Language Institute staff member. Maria was then promoted to SMU International Admission Counselor and earned a Master's Degree in Education from SMU in 2005.
At the present time, Maria is the Director for International and Diversity Admission at SMU. Her main job is recruiting international students. She first advises them during the admission process and then coaches them through the immigration process as a Designated School Official (F-1 visas), and as an Alternate Responsible Officer (J-1 visas).
For the purpose of student recruitment, Maria travels to such places as: Japan, Korea, China, India, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Countries, Qatar, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Mexico.