Maria was raised in El Paso, TX on the border of Mexico where El Paso and Juarez, Chihuahua meet. The region is characterized by High Chihuahuan desert and the three corners of Mexico, New Mexico and Texas. It is a multicultural region that fosters a mutual understanding of multiple cultures. She attended elementary school in Juarez, Mexico in an environment of deep cultural immersion.
She attended the University of Texas where she earned her degree in Accounting. She was hired by KPMG Peat Marwick, a national accounting firm where she worked for 10 years in their Lubbock and El Paso, TX offices specializing in agribusiness and maquiladoras (twin plants), her bilingual language being key in her success in both regions.
She was recruited by local El Paso Chile Company as their CFO. She was instrumental in computerizing their financial records and facilitating their move to a more modern facility for the packaging and shipping of the “Fancy Food Products” they distributed.
She went on to work for an El Paso based accounting firm for several years in the area of audit and management consulting.
Her community service is extensive and ongoing. She was an active member of the Junior League, American Heart Association and many volunteer roles in her children’s schools. She was appointed by the mayor of El Paso to become a member of the lay midwifery commission which oversaw the practice as the border region had a proliferation of this form of birthing. She served on the board of directors for the Tom Lea Institute in El Paso.
She was accepted into the TX A&M training for Master Gardener and completed her coursework and field time to become certified a Master Gardener. This informed much of her volunteer work in establishing school gardens throughout the region.
She was a Regional Representative for the Garden Conservancy. She was responsible for recruiting private homeowners to open their gardens to the public for a weekend to support the Open Days program. This was to support the mission of preserving America’s best private gardens.
In Austin she has been an active member of the Pan American Round Table, The Blanton Art museum Art Club, the Lilas Benson center at UT Austin which houses the largest collection of Latin American literature in the world and the Hill Country Garden Club conservation and preservation mission.
She and her husband, Darren Woody raised two children. Son Austin (40) and daughter Sara Maria (33). They have been married 43 years and share 3 grandchildren.