On July 22, 2005, Maria Kerford was appointed by Governor Matt Blunt as Student Representative to the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Maria has been an active member of the UMSL campus, serving in the UMSL Student Senate from 2002 to Spring 2005. During her time on the Senate, Maria served as Senate Chair from 2002 to 2003 and held positions on numerous committees. She has also been a member of the 2002 UMSL Chancellor Search Committee, a New Student Orientation Mentor in 2004 and 2005, and was a member of the University Singers from 2001 to 2003. Maria recently received the Trailblazer award from the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life for her service to the university.
After graduating in December 2005 from UMSL with a Bachelor’s degree in English and a certificate from the Pierre Laclede Honors College, Maria is continuing her education on the St. Louis campus by pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy with an emphasis in Nonprofit Business Management. She works in the UMSL Office of Development and plans to enter the field of fundraising for nonprofit organizations.
Maria is a graduate of Grandview High school in Kansas City, MO, and has three younger brothers. Her first brother, Phillip, also attends UMSL, and the second, Patrick, will be moving to St. Louis upon his graduation from high school this May.
For the past two summers, Maria has volunteered at Camp Penuel, a rural camp for underprivileged inner-city children. She is also active in her church in St. Louis, Jubilee, where she has taught children’s church for three years.
"My goals are to ensure the students’ interests are kept at the forefront of all decision making and to support President Floyd in his efforts to build a stronger university."