Maria Ploessl

As Chief of Staff, Maria is responsible for supporting the Associate Vice President, executing key initiatives and driving cross-functional collaboration. She serves as a bridge between Tech Comm and other UMN departments while building efficiencies, ensuring effective communication and strategic alignment with Tech Comm’s goals and objectives.

In her previous role, she served as the Executive Director of Minnestar, a nonprofit organization committed to building, nurturing and engaging those interested in technology through meaningful connection. In her role, she worked to promote the strategic vision and growth of the organization, while developing events and experiences that bring the MN tech community together.

She has held leadership roles with several public/private coalitions committed to serving the MN tech and entrepreneurial ecosystems, such as Make. It. MSP and Forge North. She is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in tech, and served as Operations Chair on the board of Technovation[MN], working to inspire girls and nonbinary youth to make an impact in their community using technology.

Maria is also a former educator with Minneapolis Public Schools, and was selected as a U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grantee in Bragança, Brazil where she developed university-level educational programming and events. She holds a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.