Maia Rivera Díaz is a sophomore from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is pursuing a degree in International Relations, as well as a minor in French. She is part of the Honors Program, in which she intends to complete Honors in the International Relations major.

During the summer of 2021, Maia interned at the United States Embassy in Mexico City as a Human Resources Clerk. There, she experienced diplomacy firsthand after living abroad in Mexico for a year during her senior year of high school.

In her first year at Iowa, Maia started volunteering at the Food Pantry to help people in the community and fight food insecurity. Moreover, Maia started working at the Iowa Social Science Research Center as a Telephone Research Interviewer where she gathers research data.

In the Summer of 2022, Maia returned to the United States Embassy in Mexico City to intern again; this time with more challenges and responsibilities as it was her second time around. There, Maia assisted in Human Resources Office daily inquiries, served as a leader for other interns and assisted in special projects involving several Embassy offices. This year, she is part of the Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair. Moreover, Maia serves in two Presidential Charter Committees at the University: Family Issues and Safety and Security. She is currently taking the Diplomacy Lab class where she will conduct research in partnership with the Department of State. Maia is preparing herself for a career in diplomacy. After graduation, she wants to pursue a career in the foreign services and attend law school for a career in law.