In 2006, Maria (Jeffrey ’07) Reynolds was a junior at Oakcrest, interning one afternoon a week for then-Senator Chuck Hagel. It was during this experience that she decided that she would work on the Hill one day. 

Today, she works in the very same Senate office building where she interned years ago, now as speechwriter for Senator Ted Cruz. 

“The liberal arts education I received at Oakcrest introduced me to many of the best thinkers and writers who have shaped the world over the past three thousand years,” she says. “That exposure taught me how to think critically, and how to reckon with the most fundamental questions we face—why we’re here, what we’re meant to do, and where we’re going.”

After studying Latin for five years at Oakcrest, Maria was invited to join the classical languages honors program at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio which she did, mastering the ins and outs of languages and writing. 

“The program was challenging, but studying Greek and Latin helped me understand how language works and made me a better writer,” she explains. “I also learned so much about Greek and Roman civilization and got to read the most famous writers and philosophers of the ancient world in their original languages.”

After college graduation, Maria worked in various communications positions for congressional campaigns and for members of Congress. After a short stint off the Hill working in public relations, Maria returned to the Hill to serve as Senator Cruz’s press secretary in 2018, where she then transitioned to serve as Senator Cruz’s speechwriter three years ago. 

One of her most beloved subjects while a student at Oakcrest was history, which she says was in part to some of her teachers, Mrs. Schaeffer and Ms. Ryland. “Mrs. Schaeffer was dynamic in the classroom, knew how to challenge us without being overbearing, and took pride in always having her nails done,” Maria remembers. “I had Ms. Ryland later in high school and I appreciated how much she respected her students’ independence.” 

In addition to a strong academic background, Maria says that Oakcrest provided her with a strong faith background as well. 

“It certainly gave me a solid understanding of the faith, and for that I’m grateful,” she says. “I learned a lot in Theology class over six years and its knowledge I draw upon every day. It also helped me understand what matters in life—and what doesn’t.”

Maria lives with her husband and two children in Alexandria, Virginia.