The Museum of the Peace Corps Experience (MPCE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Maricarmen Smith-Martinez to its Board of Directors.
Maricarmen Smith-Martinez is a strategic growth and partnerships executive with nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, government contracting, and international development. She is the founder of Azuvila, an advisory firm supporting strategic growth, business development strategy, and partnership development for small businesses navigating the government contracting market and mission-driven organizations accelerating growth potential.
A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Maricarmen served as a Rural Community Development Volunteer in Costa Rica from 2006 to 2008, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to community-driven development, cross-cultural partnership, and service. Following her Peace Corps service, she built a distinguished career managing complex, multi-year programs across the nonprofit, government, and private sectors.
Maricarmen spent 12 years at Bixal, where she led international business development, global operations, and strategic partnerships across three continents. During her tenure, she managed portfolios of complex USAID programs, scaled the company’s international operations from zero to over $100 million, and cultivated high-value partnerships with U.S. government clients, global networks, and local organizations. Her work focused on capturing new business opportunities, managing cross-functional teams, and positioning the organization for sustainable growth in the international development sector.
Earlier in her career, Maricarmen worked in the nonprofit sector, supporting homebuyers and their families at Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and later serving as a certified financial education specialist at CredAbility (now Money Management International), where she provided instruction focused on financial empowerment and stability.
She remains deeply engaged in the Peace Corps community, having previously served on the Board of Directors of the National Peace Corps Association, including three years as Board Chair. Her leadership helped strengthen governance, advance strategic priorities, and support Volunteers and Returned Volunteers nationwide. She continues to serve on NPCA’s Governance Committee.
Maricarmen holds a master’s degree in Global Affairs and Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Emory University. She is known for her ability to guide organizations through complexity, build authentic partnerships, and lead with strategic insight.
Reflecting on her appointment, Anne Baker, President of the Board of Directors of the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience, shared:
“I am thrilled to welcome Maricarmen to the Museum’s Board of Directors. Having worked closely with her through the National Peace Corps Association, I have seen firsthand her leadership, strategic insight, and deep commitment to the Peace Corps community. Maricarmen’s continued service to Returned Volunteers and her experience guiding complex initiatives will be an invaluable asset as the Museum continues to grow and professionalize.”
