Maria Blaze, of San Jose, has been a Student Trustee at Foothill-De Anza Community College District since 2025, Legislative Affairs Director for Region IV of the Student Senate of California Community Colleges since 2025, Youth Policy Director at SIREN Immigrant Rights since 2024, and a Civic Engagement Intern at Vietnamese American Roundtable since 2024. She was a Research Intern at the Youth Mental Health Academy of the Child Mind Institute from 2024 to 2025. She is Intercollegiate Council Chair and Community, Engagement, and Outreach Cabinet Staff at the Northern California United Vietnamese Student Association, a Fellow at Women’s Foundation of California and a Member of the Student Strategy Table at the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.