Maria Saxton joined the BioBuild program in August of 2016 as a Ph.D. student in Environmental Design and Planning. Her doctoral research, completed in spring of 2019, involved measuring the ecological footprints of individuals who downsized to tiny homes, finding that on average, footprints were reduced by 45%. Maria is currently an Environmental Planner and Housing Researcher at Hill Studio in Roanoke. She is involved in current tiny home housing initiatives in the state, and is part of local sustainability advocacy groups. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time outdoors.