Maria Masha Orlova

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MARIA MASHA ORLOVA

After nearly a decade in nonprofit development and educational administration, I decided to return to school in my late 20s to expand my opportunities for impact. I bring strengths in project management, fundraising, event coordination, and stakeholder engagement, and I’m passionate about building systems and communities that empower people.I’ve always asked why. Why are things the way they are? Should they still be? What would it take to change them? As an immigrant who grew up navigating social welfare programs with little to no language support, I often helped my parents make sense of schools, healthcare, and public systems. Those early experiences showed me both the value and the limits of community resources, and they shaped my belief that systems should empower people, not hold them back.That belief has guided me through nearly a decade of nonprofit development and educational administration, and now as a Business Administration student (Management concentration, Philosophy minor) at San José State University. At West Valley Community Services, I managed donor databases, supported fundraising campaigns, and coordinated community events around housing and food security. At the Russian School of Mathematics, I scaled event operations from two campuses to ten, overseeing facilities, events, and staff training that served thousands of families. These roles gave me a strong foundation in project management, stakeholder engagement, and process improvement, while deepening my commitment to equity and access.At SJSU, I co-founded NonTraditional Students @ SJSU, a 150+ member student and alumni community that supports older and returning students through mentorship, networking, and advocacy. Leading this group has reminded me that leadership isn’t only about taking initiative; it’s about creating space for others to grow.I am exploring opportunities in university advancement, nonprofit leadership, and organizational development where I can use my skills in fundraising, event management, and alumni engagement to strengthen communities and create lasting impact. At the heart of my work is the same question I’ve carried since childhood: why are things the way they are, and how can we make them better?