GENERAL
-- Hard and feature news stories
-- Business communications: proposals, memos, presentations
-- Content for social media presence
FIELDS of KNOWLEDGE/FAMILIARITY
-- Higher education/academia
-- College English curricula
-- Creative writing
-- Small animal care industry
-- Buddhism
-- Hatha yoga and T'ai Chi
-- Golf
-- Acrylic painting
-- Cooking and baking
-- French language
Maria's creative writing projects are currently a travel memoir about her 2019 six-month trip to Europe and a comedy series about life in academia which she hopes to one day see on the big screen. (Okay, any size screen will do.)
Maria is a fan of novelty and variety, so she has quite an eclectic taste in interests and activities. Recently she discovered the excitement of acrylic painting, and now she is enjoying seeing the world in more colors and shapes than ever before.
Another relatively new hobby is golf, which she never thought she'd say, but is now a proud member of Las Vegas' MGA, the Mediocre Golfers Association. Part of that enjoyment is doing a sport that takes her out into nature, so it follows that she is also an avid hiker and birdwatcher.
After 10 years of learning to play the mandolin, Maria still knows only 4 chords but enjoys jamming anyway.
Other areas of interest and knowledge include Buddhism and meditation, cooking and baking, watching NFL and the PGA Tour, animal care, homeownership, yoga, and T'ai Chi.
Studied journalism, advertising, and public relations.
Studied fiction writing in this four-year program.
Earned certification for teaching English as a second language in this 120-hour professional adult English language program.
As a college English instructor at several United States colleges and universities, Maria S. has expertise in creating educational materials, including syllabi, assignment instructions, lesson plans and materials, student handouts, and lecture presentations.
Maria grew up in gardening as the daughter of parents who grew vegetables as well as apple and blueberry orchards. Since then, she has worked at plant nurseries and has been enjoying growing her own gardens.
Maria has done a fair amount of travel, including to the following places: Nepal, Bhutan, Ireland, France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Mexico, Canada. She has also done much travel and lived in various locations within her native United States.
Before entering the academic and journalism fields, Maria worked in retail, selling ladies cosmetics and fragrances at various high-end depart stores.
Since the days of playing in the woods and brooks of Massachusetts, Maria has been a lifelong hiker, backpacker, camper, birdwatcher, and sports fanatic. Such sports of interest include golf, tennis, badminton, NFL.
As a longtime animal lover and former animal health technician in veterinary hospitals in California and Idaho, Maria S. possesses much knowledge about small-animal health care, behavior, and relevant issues.
Maria has been a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhist for two decades. Also, she is familiar with other spiritualities, including Taoism and Hinduism
Maria grew up playing sports, especially tennis. However, she also has experience playing and watching golf. She also follows the NFL, MLB, and NBA seasons.
As a journalist for several print publications for over 3 decades, Maria S. knows how to write engaging, informative articles for various audiences, genres, and purposes. She also meets deadlines.
As a college literature and writing instructor, Maria has created numerous slideshow presentations for delivery of educational information.
As the Tourism Manager for a northern Nevada visitors bureau/chamber of commerce, Maria was in charge of creating the monthly' newsletter.
In her role as Tourism Manager for a northern Nevada visitors bureau, Maria was responsible for local events collateral, including promotional brochures, fliers, posters, newspaper ads.
As a current volunteer Content Writer for an NGO assisting young entrepreneurs, Maria writes content for social media posts to promote its podcasts.
Maria has edited and provided feedback on several colleagues' book manuscripts/novels.