Maria Thomas

Director of Team & Culture

I hail from Camden, Maine, a small coastal town known uniquely for being a place “where the mountains meet the sea.” A New York Times writer once described Camden as though it “reads like a postcard from New England written to itself,” whatever that means.

From an international architecture firm near Skid Row to a seafood company on the coast of Maine, I’ve been a part of teams big and small, corporate cubicles to meetings on a lobster boat; family-owned to 10,000 people plus. I was drawn to AOEU because of its unique mission in arts education and its culture of creativity and am very happy to be a part of its growth. When not “people op’ing,” culturing teams, or human resourcing, you can find me slurping oysters with a Vinho Verde in hand, island hopping in search of the best picnic beach, thrifting for vintage furniture, or hanging off a rock face. Now… can someone tell me where the glue sticks are? I’ve got to get back to work!

Professional Accomplishments:
SHRM-CP
Certified End-of-Life Doula – University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (Conditional)
MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling – University of Southern Maine
BA International Affairs & Peace Studies – Manhattan College