Maria Haji-Georgi, Ph.d.

Hi, I'm Maria! I'm an educator and researcher with my Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York. My dissertation  explored the effects of lovingkindness meditation on teacher burnout, teachers' emotion regulation skills, and teacher-student interaction quality.

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My mission is to work towards achieving equity, belonging, and well-being in education, especially for those living or working in marginalized and/or under-served communities. I aim to bridge the gap between research and practice, by making educational research readily accessible to any and all stakeholders and individuals wanting to learn more about various topics in general and special education. 

Prior to embarking on my PhD, I taught in elementary and middle schools across New York and taught third grade at an international school in Chile. As a teacher, I built strong classroom communities and cultivated meaningful relationships with my students and their families. I saw what a difference this made in our classroom climate and in my students' performances academically, emotionally, socially, and behaviorally. It was during my teaching experiences that I decided I wanted to return for a Ph.D. in hopes of being of greater service to teachers and students through research, teacher preparation, and professional development.

My research utilizes quantitative and qualitative methodologies to understand the factors that contribute to and help prevent or reduce teacher burnout, especially among special educators. Through my research I also aim to understand and improve teacher-student relationships, particularly those involving students with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Understanding and improving prosocial behaviors and social-emotional competencies among teachers and students is a common thread woven throughout my research and practice. 

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