As the Managing Director of the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs (CELOP), Maria Arruda oversees and drives the mission of the Center. She is the chief administrative officer and provides leadership for all of CELOP’s activities, including strategic planning, academic program development and delivery, business development, finance, operations, marketing and recruitment, admissions, and student services.

Maria joined CELOP after a successful career in Cairo, Egypt, most recently as the Assistant Country Director for Programs at AMIDEAST, a large American non-profit organization with 20 offices in 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. As the Assistant Country Director, Maria was responsible for overseeing a multitude of programs including English language and professional training in addition to international student advising efforts. Before that role, she served as the Director of the U.S. Department of State funded and AMIDEAST managed English Language Resource Center at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Prior to becoming Director, Maria served as an English Language Fellow at Al-Azhar University through the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, in conjunction with Georgetown University.

Maria received her Bachelor of Arts in Film from Emerson College and a Master of Science in Education and TESOL from Long Island University. Maria has traveled to 25 countries and enjoys learning about other cultures, volunteering, gardening, running, biking and practicing yoga. In her spare time, Maria volunteers with Sharing the Harvest and serves as a judge in the international CARAVAN short film festival as well as a mentor for the US-Egypt Higher Education Initiative funded by USAID.