Executive Director

As a traumatized child in a broken foster care system, Maurissa witnessed firsthand the beauty of safety in one place; that was her school. Maurissa credits her ability to connect and validate the experiences of others whom she meets with the teachings of her mentor Dr. Adam Grudberg. Adam began Maurissa's healing journey and provided her with the necessary support to not only survive aging out of the foster care system, but truly THRIVE in life. Maurissa's journey through higher education has been long and arduous, however she continues to seek the very best and prominent opportunities in life. Maurissa earned her Master's of Education in Human Development and Psychology- from Harvard Graduate School of Education. After which she completed her Master's in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Maurissa holds a License in Clinical Social Work and is driven to help all she works with in finding one safe space to began their healing and find safety.