Mariia Holiiat

Originally from Lviv — the heart of Western Ukraine — Mariia Holiiat graduated from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in 2002 with a degree from the Faculty of Foreign Languages. From 2001 to 2004, she lived and studied in London, gaining international experience that continues to shape her worldview.

After returning to Ukraine, she worked as a logistics specialist in Lviv from 2004 to 2007. Since moving to the U.S., she has remained closely involved in education and community service. From 2014 to 2016 and again from 2018 to 2019, she volunteered as a primary school teacher at Ridna Shkola at St. Volodymyr Mission in Santa Clara.

She continued her professional development by studying accounting at De Anza College (2017–2019), and since 2019 has worked as a payments specialist for a nonprofit HOA.

Since 2023, Mariia has been a volunteer teacher for 2nd grade at St. Michael’s Ukrainian School in San Francisco, where she brings care, structure, and cultural pride to every lesson. Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling with her family and growing flowers.