Maria Navarro

Maria Navarro is a Teaching Professor at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, specifically within the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University (2004) and a BS/MS equivalent in Agricultural Engineering from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain (1992).

• Ph.D., Agricultural Education, Texas A&M University (2004)
• BS/MS, Agricultural Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (1992)

Her research focuses on High-Impact Practices (HIPs), interdisciplinary education, and integrating STEM with social sciences to create globally conscious curricula. She has led transformative projects in curriculum operations, faculty development, and student equity, with recent work emphasizing sustainable food systems and biocultural diversity.

• 2018 Fellow, Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education
• 2017 D.W. Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2016 Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award
• 2014 UGA Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Dr. Navarro has secured competitive grants totaling over $1.1 million from USDA-NIFA-HEP for projects like 'Interdisciplinary graduate research and education in sustainable food systems' and 'Integrating humanistic studies into engineering education.' Her teaching includes international study-abroad programs, graduate seminars, and first-year courses, with a focus on experiential learning and curriculum innovation.