Receiving her BFA in Jewelry/Metals from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth, Mawadda's first experience with metals was her freshmen year of college in an Introduction to Metalsmithing course. The sound of hot metal quenching in water, using a torch and power tools had an indelible effect. She knew she would be working in metal the rest of her life. Her obsession with nature combined with a love of metals merged to create a signature style of form and texture found in her work today.