Maria Bennett Hock

Maria Bennett Hock, BIS ’07, began her degree path as a 22-year-old military spouse. She moved often and took courses at universities across the United States and overseas in Germany and Korea. When her youngest son graduated from Mason, Hock decided to complete her degree and found the Bachelor of Individualized Study program at the university, which provides a tailored degree experience for adult learners with a mixture of college credits and professional experience. Hock expected her courses to further her graphic design career, but the supplemental drawing and painting classes she took completely changed her trajectory.

From those classes, Hock discovered her passion for painting and credits her time at Mason as “leading her in the right direction” and giving her the space to “hone her skills.” She is now an accomplished artist who has shown work in galleries across the country and in Toyota, Japan.

In 2021, she completed what she considers her most important body of work, which was featured by People.com. The subjects were Duke University Hospital essential staff members—45 portraits in 45 days.

The individuals were chosen by nomination from all essential hospital staff, especially those in food service, maintenance, and janitorial services, along with doctors and nurses. Hock requested selfies taken at the end of workers’ shifts, and she painted one portrait a day for 45 days. The portraits were displayed at the Duke University Medical Center before being gifted to the participating staff members.

To learn more and to view the portraits, visit mariahock.com/works.

Published in the college's magazine, Horizon, fall 2022.