Maria Laws

Maria Laws is an award-winning educator, author, and thought leader shaping the future of AI and education. She is currently the VP of Learning & Development at Ahura AI where she designs cutting-edge AI learning tools to support access to high-quality education in communities worldwide. Maria recently returned from Dubai, where she attended the Global Excellence Awards program and was honored as the 2024 Global L&D Leader of the Year. She is also the author of AI Empowered: A Practical Guide for Teachers, Learners, and Parents in the Age of AI.

Before stepping into the world of AI, Maria had a dynamic career as both a professional dancer and a k12 STEM teacher and instructional coach. She also served as a university professor at UC Berkeley, where she pioneered innovative approaches to integrating the arts into STEM education, blending creativity and science to inspire and engage learners across all subject areas.