MARIA SANDRA GARCIA DEFEZ

MARIA SANDRA GARCIA DEFEZ is a Professor in the Department of Comparative Education at the Faculty of Philosophy and Educational Sciences, University of Valencia, Spain. She is an active academic with a strong research focus on the theory and history of education, educational policies, interculturality, and peace education. Her work critically examines school segregation, teacher training, and the educational legacy of the Spanish Republican exile in Mexico.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of history, policy, and social justice in education. She explores how educational systems respond to political upheaval, migration, and inequality. Key areas include educational exile studies, digital narratives for inclusion, anti-racism pedagogy, and transformative peace education. She is particularly interested in how narrative and memory shape educational identity and community transformation.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent thematic trajectory focused on historical and sociopolitical dimensions of education. From analyses of the LODE law to studies on school zoning in Valencia and narrative praxis for peace, her work combines rigorous historical research with actionable policy insights. She frequently addresses issues of educational equity, inclusion, and democratic participation in both historical and contemporary contexts.

She is a member of the POLISOC research group, which investigates educational policies, interculturality, and society. Her projects, such as the 'Mapa Escolar de Valencia,' involve socio-educational interventions and knowledge co-production with students and communities. She has contributed to teacher training programs and has published extensively on initial teacher education and school management.

Her advising and collaborative work emphasize participatory methodologies and democratic engagement in education. Though no formal list of students is provided, her involvement in master’s-level teaching and co-production projects suggests active mentorship. She has not received any scientific awards explicitly mentioned in the text.