Maria Zamora

Maria Zamora was born and raised in the small beach town of Carpinteria, California. As a daughter of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college student, Maria obtained a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the University of San Francisco. As an undergraduate student, Maria completed her first few international travel experiences through the University Ministry’s Pedro Arrupe immersions program. During her Colombia trip to learn about the country’s internal armed conflict, she had an epiphany that expanded her understanding of diplomacy and its social significance; this became the focus of her undergraduate thesis. She returned to the South American country the following year with a university-sponsored fellowship to obtain the necessary fieldwork for her proposal. Maria spent two weeks at the Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango in Bogot as a designated researcher investigating the Reinado del Caf and gathering crucial logistical information. She later traveled to Calarc, where she practiced community mapping and conducted appreciative inquiries with several community members about the festivity and its history. This culturally enlightening experience solidified her decision to join the Peace Corps after graduation. After a two-year delay, Maria was sworn in as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia in July 2022. She became part of the first cohort in-country and the third cohort worldwide to resume the Peace Corps’ global post-pandemic operations. Maria’s intended graduate degree is in international development or international studies, which will provide her with a solid foundation for a career in the United States Agency for International Development. During her free time, Maria loves arts and crafts, cooking, baking, and looking for new cafes and restaurants.