Maria Cormier, 1998

Maria is a senior research associate for the Community College

Research Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College.

The center conducts research to help community colleges strengthen opportunities and improve outcomes for their students, particularly those from underserved populations. Maria studies such subjects as institutional reform, faculty learning, student experiences, and workforce development.

Maria holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in education policy studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A native of Madison, Wis., she majored in education at Cornell and was a member of the student senate and Kappa Theta.

Maria’s husband, Anand Marri, was recently named dean of Ball State’s Teachers

College. The couple has three children. They are relocating to Muncie, Ind.