J. Maria Bermudez

Dr. J. Maria Bermudez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and the Ph.D. program in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Georgia. She holds affiliate roles in the Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies, the Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education (CLASE). Her research focuses on strength-based approaches for marginalized populations, particularly Latinx families, using feminist, decolonizing, and culturally responsive methodologies.

Education: Ph.D. in MFT/Human Development (Virginia Tech, 2002); M.S. in MFT/Child & Family Development (Purdue University, 1997); B.A. in Psychology (University of Houston, 1991).

Research Interests: Intersectional family dynamics, clinical training in multilingual settings, and systemic therapy for LGBTQ+ populations. She co-founded Lazos Hispanos, a community-based program addressing health disparities among Latinx families, and the interdisciplinary Aspire Clinic.

Teaching: Over 14 undergraduate and 10 graduate courses, including mentorship of 35+ students, many Latinx-identified. Editorial Roles: Board member of 7 peer-reviewed journals in family therapy and human development.

Awards: 2020 Chris Todd Outstanding Outreach Award, 2022 Legacy Scholar Award (NCFR). Grants: Focus on community-based participatory research and clinical practice innovations.