Maria E. Iafelice is an innovative educator and creative leader with over 10 years’ experience in museums and the non-profit sector. Dedicated to making art accessible, she joined the Toledo Museum of Art’s Education & Engagement team in 2015, where she currently oversees youth and family programs and community initiatives including the annual Block Party event and Circle, TMA’s affinity group dedicated to inclusive and innovative programming. She was selected to be part of the Museum Leadership Institute’s 2018 Next Gen leadership program, recognized as the 2019 Emerging Professional of the Year by the Ohio Museums Association, and recently received nominations for Toledo’s 20 Under 40 awards. Iafelice sits on the Collingwood Art Center’s board of directors, is a member of The Arts Commission’s Artist Services Committee and previously volunteered as a mentor for first generation college students with College Now Greater Cleveland. Iafelice’s research expertise is an intersection between contemporary art practice and pedagogy with publication in the Journal of Childhood Studies and has exhibited art locally and internationally; she has earned a M.A. and B.A. in Art Education from ºÚÁÏÍø.