Born  in Annandale, Virginia and raised in suburban Baltimore, Maria has passionately followed her dreams and talents. She went to New York's Pratt Institute of Art for two years, then finished her Bachelors in Fine Art at the University of Maryland. She is a commercial airline pilot as well as an accomplished artist. In 1999, she became Maria Danker, when she married Jon Danker, also a pilot, and took his name.

The tragedy of September 11th took her job with Midwest Airlines as a pilot, but opened the door to a space in the Hot Shops Art Center in downtown Omaha where she now has a studio.

Maria and Jon currently live in Gretna, NE with their two children, Matthew and Macey.