At a special ceremony held by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences as part of 2014 Alumni Weekend, Global Affairs director Lisa Breglia was happy to accompany 20ll BA recipient Maricé Morales as she received her Distinguished Alumni Award from CHSS Dean Debbie Boehm-Davis.
Maricé has many significant accomplishments in the short time since her graduation. She is currently a delegate-elect in the Maryland House of Delegates, having won her democratic primary election this past June. When successful after the general, Maricé will represent seven zip codes in Montgomery County covering the areas of Silver Spring, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Wheaton, and Olney.
As Special Assistant to Senator Roger Manno, Maricé Morales helped win funding for transportation improvements in Montgomery County, pass progressive legislation to protect victims of employment discrimination and prevent exploitation of undocumented residents in Maryland. Maricé's advocacy helped prevent onerous cuts to senior programs, health care and other safety-net services.
Maricé chose to focus on public interest law at the University of Maryland. At the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Maricé worked on international human rights issues including discrimination based on race and nationality, lack of access to equal justice based on class or sexual orientation, migrant employment law, and US based immigration issues. Maricé also served at the Circuit Court level where she gained experience in civil and criminal justice at the county level.
Maricé has pushed to improve the lives of families with her service in government and non-profit organizations. At the National Science Foundation, she managed grants for Federal research. In the judiciary branch, she gained expertise in issues related to juvenile justice, family law, and an area in development, known as “crimmigration law.” In the non-profit sector, Maricé worked on international development projects and government procurement. In Annapolis, she worked on landmark prevailing wage legislation and fought to roll back toxic pesticide applications.
As the daughter of Peruvian immigrants – her mother, a domestic worker and her father, a small business owner – Maricé learned first-hand how hard work and the right opportunities can help people achieve the American dream.
Maricé holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, with distinction in Public Interest Law, a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Affairs with a double major in Foreign Languages from George Mason University. She speaks English, Spanish and French.
September 22, 2014