Maria Egnatz Alexander is the Executive Director of the Anderson Education Foundation, where she leads efforts to enrich public education in Anderson, Indiana. With a deep commitment to equity and community empowerment, Maria works to ensure every student has access to quality learning opportunities, regardless of background or identity. Her leadership is guided by a belief that strong communities are built on inclusive education and shared values of dignity and belonging.
Maria is also a passionate advocate for civic engagement and social justice. She plays a key role in voter education as the research lead for the Community Lens of Anderson Voter Guide, helping residents make informed decisions at the polls. In her role as Vice President of Madison County SURE (Standing Up for Racial Equity), Maria champions racial equity initiatives—particularly in education—and is especially proud of leading a youth team to produce the documentary, “Black Excellence Resides in Anderson”, which highlights local Black leaders and their stories.
Maria’s heart for service extends to LGBTQ+ advocacy through her work with the Anderson Pride Team, which recently celebrated its second successful Pride event. She also serves as a Precinct Committee Person for Madison County, where she focuses on reimaging political engagement, especially for those previously uninvolved. When she’s not organizing or advocating, Maria finds joy in spending time with her favorite people, reading compelling books, hosting themed parties, or getting paint on paper. She’s especially thankful for the support of her husband, Aaron, and their three children—who understand that stopping for a long community conversation is just part of who she is.