Dr. María Gutierrez currently works for the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources in San Antonio, Texas as a research scientist. Her research interests include prescribed fire ecology and rangeland management. She provides support and leadership to various programs in the San Antonio office to include a statewide-prescribed fire network and web-based training program.

Gutierrez received her doctorate in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University. During her graduate tenure, María received the 2006 Ethel Ashworth-Tsutsui Memorial Award for Mentoring presented by Women in Science and Engineering and is also the recipient of the 2006 Ecosystem Science and Management Outstanding Doctoral Student Award presented by the department.