A two-time graduate of the University of Georgia, Maria Blanchard holds a Master’s of Science in Education for Speech-Language Pathology. During her undergraduate years, she visited Tanzania three times to participate in Sustainable Service-Learning activities, once as a student and twice as a graduate assistant. Her interest in Tanzania and children in challenged environments began in 2015 and has grown stronger every year since, particularly in her role in leading Service-Learning students in their experience abroad in Tanzania. She has also continued to work with Upendo-OKAT, volunteering her services where needed, particularly in communications with different agencies and with fundraising.

After graduating, Maria took a gap year (2017-18) and returned to Tanzania for 9 months to teach at a local university. During that period, she volunteered at the UPENDO orphanage and home every week. As a Foundation member, Maria’s role will be to strengthen the vision she has developed for the Foundation, a focus on students’ participation in service-learning, supporting fundraising efforts, and designing programs suitable for the UPENDO children that develop independent thinking, emotional intelligence, creativity, and self-worth.