Student and Alumni Spotlights

Hispanic Heritage Month: Maria Del Cid-Kosso, MPAP ’20

Bloustein School alumnus Maria Del Cid-Kosso, MPAP ’20 is passionate about expanding the educational opportunities available to undocumented youth and amplifying marginalized voices in politics. In 2021 Maria was appointed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy as a Commissioner on the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission seeks to establish and grow a responsible, regulated medicinal and recreational cannabis industry. By applying the values of safety and equity, the Commission centers its work around creating and protecting access for patients, the production of safe products, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry to develop a national model for sensible, fair oversight.

Maria was previously the director of Policy and Legislative Services at the New Jersey Department of Health, where she was instrumental in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading strategic communications on statewide vaccination efforts. She was also instrumental in crafting and assessing hundreds of legislative bills that promoted equitable policies in healthcare. She was the Latina elected president of the Union County Young Democrats, served as the co-chair of the Latino Caucus, NJ Democratic State Committee and currently serves as board member of the Latina Civic Foundation. A longtime New Jersey resident, Maria currently resides in Mercer County. Raised in Plainfield, she was born in Guatemala.

Read her full bio here