Introducing Maria Ott: The Chesterton Academy's Newest Employee

I have exciting news! Thanks to your generosity in our Year-End fundraising campaign, I have just hired Maria Ott as our newest Chesterton Academy employee! Maria will be assisting with administrative duties and with operational functions of the school. She graduated in December 2021 from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and possesses a B.S. in Engineering Management. After experiencing about 18 months of project management, research, and other internships related to her discipline of study throughout her time in college, Maria felt a call to use her professional life and time in service of the Church, which led her to the Chesterton Academy of St. Philip Neri.

Maria is extremely excited to be working for the Chesterton Academy. Educated most of her life in the classical tradition, she is a firm believer in the classical model of education, and passionate about the transmission of truth, beauty, goodness, to high school students. She believes that a liberal arts education rooted in the richness of the Catholic faith is the ideal way to form young people who are equipped to face and overcome the challenges presented by a secular society and be the face of Christ to others for the rest of their lives. Maria feels privileged to be a part of this important and life-giving mission and is grateful to be given such a wonderful opportunity.

Originally from Jefferson City, MO, Maria attended college in Rolla, MO, where she met her husband, Tristan. (And they were recently married just two weeks ago, on January 1!) She is thrilled to be living in Kansas City, the first place where there are enough coffee shops to keep even her coffee-loving heart satisfied. In her free time, Maria enjoys hiking, hunting (for deals at thrift stores, that is), knitting, listening to Billy Joel, and reading.

-Dr. Murray