Maria Martinez Sanchez was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She attended New Mexico State University where she received a Bachelor’s of Social Work and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Government. After college Maria worked as a licensed social worker with the developmentally disabled population. She later attended the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Prior to joining the ACLU, Maria served as a staff attorney for the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty for six years.