Maria Valencia has joined the Reich College of Education’s James Center for Student Success and Advising staff as the assistant director for student engagement, which includes serving as the director of Appalachian Community of Education Scholars (ACES).
In her role, Valencia is involved with the planning, management, and evaluation of professional development and social programming for the students majoring in teacher education and the ACES program. She also teaches a teacher leadership seminar class for the ACES program.
“Everyone I have met so far has been super, and so welcoming,” said Valencia, giving the James Center team a shout-out for being so amazing. “I am excited to continue making new and more acquaintances, exploring the outdoors, and learning so much about the area!”
Valencia earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). She is currently completing her Ph.D. from UNCG.
Prior to joining the RCOE staff, Valencia was an assessor for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), an artistic coordinator for a non-profit called KidZNotes, a Duke University String School Faculty, and the orchestra director at Lucas Middle School in Durham, North Carolina.
“It was a simple choice for me coming to App State: its great sense of community value; for its historical background on 'education first'; and its beautiful location,” she noted.
Valencia loves traveling, and enjoys the outdoors, camping, and paddle boarding! She also loves drinking tea and time with her pup, friends, and family. An interesting fact about Valencia is that no generation in her family has been born in the same country, and what she loves about it is that she grew up feeling like a citizen of the world and was a part of so many cultures.
Maria Valencia
