Maria Alonso

Maria Alonso is a senior executive and community leader with a rich history of civic involvement in South Florida. She currently serves as CEO and Regional Dean of Northeastern University’s Miami Campus where she provides the strategic direction and vision for the programs, services and overall operations for the campus. She works closely with the University’s academic leadership to identify and develop meaningful opportunities that respond to the needs of the community and address workforce gaps in the region’s evolving economy. Alonso serves as an Independent Board Director of U.S. Century Bank (NASDAQ: USCB), one of Florida’s largest community banks. As Bank of America’s corporate social responsibility manager for the Miami market, she was responsible for achieving the bank’s charitable giving objectives, CRA targets, and employee engagement goals, strengthening BOA’s brand among clients, consumers, investors, and the community at large. Alonso was tapped to become United Way Miami president and CEO in August 2017. There, she guided the strategic direction, operations, and finances of the largest private funder of health and human services in Miami-Dade County. With a mission of building a stronger community, United Way serves as a platform by which companies can further their ESG and community goals. Alonso’s leadership was instrumental in United Way Miami achieving a 50% increase in total assets to $148MM and a 21% reduction in expenses over her four-year tenure from August 2017 to December 2021. Alonso has served as Board Chair for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and, at Beacon Council, was a co-chair of the One Community One Goal economic development strategic plan. She has served on the boards of the Miami Dade College Foundation, Camillus House, and others. Alonso is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association, the National Association of Corporate Directors, the International Women’s Forum and the Orange Bowl Committee. She is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of Money Management International and Grameen America, national nonprofit organizations whose work is focused on consumer financial empowerment and mobility. Alonso graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and earned her MBA in Marketing from Florida International University.