Maria Archuleta joined the ACLU of New Mexico in 2022 as communications director, where she works to advance social justice through targeted communications strategies.
Prior to joining ACLU-NM, Maria was communications director at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. While there, she expanded communications efforts to forward the organization’s goals in education equity, affordable healthcare, paid sick leave, fair lending, food and cash security, and other issues that have a disproportionate impact on low-income New Mexicans.
Maria is no stranger to the ACLU and spent years at the organization working on the gamut of ACLU priorities. At the ACLU National Headquarters, she focused on bringing media attention to multiple civil rights issues, including immigrants’ rights, voting rights, and women’s rights. At the ACLU of Northern California, she worked in communications and later as field director.
She also worked at Open Society Foundations, where she oversaw communications work for the group’s work in the United States, including drug policy, criminal justice reform, immigrants’ rights, black male achievement, and other issues.
Maria grew up with 360-degree views of the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo mountains in the beautiful valley of Española. She currently lives in Albuquerque with her son, spouse, and two very fluffy orange tabbies.
She has a BA in Spanish and Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from the New School for Social Research.