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Maria Espinoza ’22 VSB knew she wanted to positively impact VSB’s students of color and create an inclusive environment where everyone felt accepted and valued.

Maria Espinoza ‘22 VSB says her drive to make a difference comes from her high school experience. She attended Little Flower Catholic High School, an all-girls school in Philadelphia. Little Flower’s patron is St. Therese of Lisieux, known for her “little acts of love” through service, which motivated Maria even then to make a difference in the lives of others.

Coming to �޻���ֱ�� continued to feed Maria’s desire to serve. She was inspired by her professors, faculty members, and staff, who cared about her and wanted to see her succeed. Maria knew she had to do the same for others. During Maria’s junior year, she became president of �޻���ֱ��’s chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and co-founded the Society of Women of Color in Business in the �޻���ֱ�� School of Business.

As a leader of both organizations, she had the honor of mentoring and tutoring students of color. “By giving younger students my time, energy, and advice, I was able to lift them up as I climbed. I became a part of a mission to make students of color feel included, welcomed, and appreciated,” Maria shares.

These leadership positions also allowed her to use her voice to ignite change and create a more inclusive environment for students of color. As a freshman, she had longed to find a space that she found truly inclusive. Co-founding the Society of Women of Color in Business in VSB empowered her to transform that narrative for women of color entering �޻���ֱ�� so they could feel a greater sense of belonging.

Since graduating, Maria joined PwC as an Audit Associate in the Philadelphia office, a field that allows her to continue that work of inclusion and belonging. In fact, she chose a career in accounting and financial services very intentionally. “I want to bring financial awareness and literacy to as many people as I can to achieve my dream of lifting up others so we all can live in a more just and caring world. I also wish to increase minority representation in the Accounting profession because I believe different cultures and perspectives impact the work environment in creative and insightful ways.”

For Maria, the desire to serve extends well beyond herself. “Through all of these moments, I stood by the mantra, ‘Be the change you wish to see,’” she concludes.