Maria Frausto

Communications Director

Maria Frausto (she/her) is the Communications Director at CIEL. She is based in Washington, DC. Her work focuses primarily on driving strategic and impactful communications that reinforces the organization’s role as a global leader in defending the right to a healthy planet.

Maria leads CIEL’s dynamic communications team to execute comprehensive communication strategies, tactics, and campaigns that raise the visibility of the organization, engage critical audiences, and help drive smart environmental advocacy.

Maria spent thirteen years providing strategic communications guidance, driving media and public engagement, raising brand awareness, and promoting narratives around civil rights, social justice, and public policy issues with two U.S. leading advocacy organizations, including the American Immigration Council and the American Bar Association.

She led the strategic communications efforts at the American Immigration Council for five years, helping elevate the organization’s position as a powerful voice in promoting public understanding of U.S. immigration law and policy, advocate for the just and fair administration of U.S. immigration laws, protect the legal rights of immigrants, and educate the public about the enduring contributions of America’s immigrants.

Previously, at the American Bar Association, Maria served six years as the primary public relations liaison to six entities promoting progressive environmental, immigration, criminal justice, civil rights, and human rights initiatives and policies.

Maria holds an M.A. in International Commerce and Public Policy from George Mason University, and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Miami. She enjoys running, attending music concerts, and thrifting.

Maria can be reached at mfrausto@ciel.org.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.