Mary Evelyn Soriano Maravilla Director, Committee on Rules Guam Legislature At 28 years of age, Mary Evelyn Soriano Maravilla is the Director for the Committee on Rules for I Liheslaturan Guahån (The Guam Legislature) under the leadership of Senator Régine Biscoe Lee. She is a proud 2010 graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam, and has attended the Guam Community College. Mary is currently taking online courses with the New York Institute of Photography and is pursuing Professional Photography, for which she has always had a strong affinity and passion. Her service to the People of Guam spans for nearly a decade with the Guam Legislature. After graduating from the Academy of Our Lady in 2010, Mary had the opportunity to assist with social media aspects for then Senator, Rory J. Respicio’s campaign. Later that year, she became fully employed with Senator Respicio’s office for three full terms, from 2011 through 2016. Mary first served as a Legislative Assistant, quickly becoming efficient in her duties and accustomed to the daily operations of a Senatorial office. She then became an Administrative Assistant, where she expanded her role by assisting with social media and acquiring new administrative duties all while staffing Legislative Hearings, Session and various Legislative events. She later was afforded an opportunity to assist the Committee on Rules, where she became more involved in the Legislative process. While learning the skills required to ensure that all Legislative bills adhere to the Legislature’s Standing Rules and procedures, Mary thrived in political operations and became a crucial contributor in the Legislative Process and a “household name” in the Guam Legislature. In 2017, Mary took on a new role working as a Legislative Officer II with the Office of the Legislative Clerk. Taking her previous experiences with Senator Respicio’s office, she processed bill introductions, resolutions, certificates and assisted with Legislative Session. Adding a new layer of legislative knowledge to her constantly evolving roles, Mary proved to be a strong asset to the Clerk's Office by providing a very structured and organized method of processing and displayed a very high attention to detail. This all garnered her very strong marks with the Clerk of the Legislature. Her efforts were immediately noticed and in that same year, during a shift in oversight leadership, she was called upon to once again rejoin the Committee on Rules, under the immediate oversight of Senator Régine Biscoe Lee. Then in 2019, Mary was tapped again by Senator Régine Biscoe Lee to continue her service to the People of Guam, this time in the capacity as the Director of the Committee on Rules. Mary participated in the 2019 NCSL American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS) Fall Professional Development Seminar to improve legislative administration and procedures and to establish better communication between clerks and
49 | 50 Under 40: Emerging Leaders in the Government of Guam
