A graduate of the joint program at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and the William H. Bowen School of Law, Maricella Garcia holds both Juris Doctorate and Master of Public Service degrees. Garcia previously worked for five years with an advocacy program for Latino families as a program coordinator. Currently Garcia serves as the Director of Catholic Immigration Services – Little Rock, where she is responsible for overseeing immigration staff helping families to regularize their status, providing statewide education for immigrants about their rights, and for lobbying on behalf of the Diocese of Little Rock on immigration matters. Garcia advised Bishop Anthony Taylor on his pastoral letter on the human rights of immigrants entitled, “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me,” and helped coordinate the Diocese’s response to anti-immigrant legislation as well as support for passage of the Arkansas DREAM act. In 2009, she was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to the Task Force on Racial Profiling. In 2013, Garcia was Garcia was recognized by the Hispanic Law Student’s Association at the University of Arkansas Bowen School of Law as the Alumna of the Year for “Outstanding Service to the Latino Community” and was given the Sueño Americano award by the League of United Latin American Citizens for her work on helping the Latino community achieve their dreams.
