Maura brings more than thirty years of professional experience to her new role as Director of Development for the Institute for Therapy through the Arts. Her work has primarily been in the non-profit sector, early on in the field of museum education (with students and teachers at The Art Institute of Chicago) and then in volunteer management, program development, and organizational leadership (for older adults at the North Shore Senior Center). As the Director of Ignatian Volunteer Corps Chicago, Maura cultivated strong individual and community partner relationships and led all development efforts, including annual appeals, major gifts, program sponsorships, and fundraising events. In her most recent role, she served as the Director of Student Development for Fusion Academy in Evanston. In this for-profit environment, Maura was responsible for stewarding enrolled families to ensure high satisfaction with the school and continued financial support.
Relationship building and passion for mission energize Maura and are what excites her about joining ITA. She marvels how her past experiences have led her to this role and organization at the perfect point in her career. She not only brings development expertise; she comes with the experience of serving individuals (from youth to older adults) who are facing mental health and cognitive challenges, and she also, from her work in museum education, is a true believer in the power of the arts to reach people on a deep and transformational level.
Maura has an MA in Art History from Northwestern University and a BA from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. During the Pandemic, she earned her certification as an end-of-life Doula through the University of Vermont. She lives in Evanston with her husband Dan, and they feel extremely fortunate that their two young adult children live close by in Chicago. She enjoys walking, reading, going to restaurants with friends, and opening herself up to new experiences and adventures.
Pronouns: she/her/hers