Maria Polletta is currently a sophomore in the Bachelor's program at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Arizona State University, specializing in print and online reporting. She intends to pursue a double major in Political Science as well, in addition to a "related area" qualification in Spanish. She is attending the Cronkite School on an almost full college-sponsored National Merit scholarship for academics.

Maria currently works as an intern at the Arizona Republic, the Phoenix area's largest newspaper, where she reports breaking news for online publication on immediate deadline. Several of her stories have been among the most read for the day, and a handful have also been chosen for publication in print. She strives for accuracy and solid writing in addition to the speed required for breaking news.

She has had more in-depth freelance articles published by area news sources such as the Zonie Report as well.

Maria also worked for a semester as a field reporter and anchor for ASU's student television station, Sun Devil Television, where she shot and produced 3-4 minute news packes each week. She is proficient in video editing.

Maria has also studied Spanish extensively and is almost fluent in spoken/written Spanish. She hopes an upcoming study abroad trip to South America will help her to achieve fluency.