Maria Khalsa

MALAS
Arts, Literature and Cultural Studies

Maria Khalsa was born and raised in Brazil where she obtained a Bachelors in Communication through FUMEC University in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. During her time as an undergraduate she also pursued documentary photography, participating in and capturing several activities of the folkloric Congado religious tradition in a small Brazilian town called Oliveira. Upon immigrating to the United States in 2009 she started working for non-profit organizations in northern New Mexico. Experiencing life in a small town in a foreign country gave her a different perspective from the Latin culture and background in which she grew up and inspired her to seek a Masters in Latin American Studies. The opportunity to dive into cultural expressions of historic and contemporary art, to understand the drivers of social and economic inequalities, and to explore a deeper understanding of her roots are the driving forces behind her pursuit of a Masters in Latin American studies with UNM.