Maria Gallardo-Williams

Maria Gallardo-Williams is an Adjunct Teaching Professor in the Department of Chemistry at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and serves as Associate Director for Faculty Development in the Office for Faculty Excellence. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of South Florida (1999), and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Chemistry from Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela (1989 and 1986).

Her research focuses on innovative chemistry education strategies, including the use of extended reality (VR/AR) technologies to enhance inclusivity and accessibility in laboratory settings. She actively explores social media (e.g., Twitter) for student engagement, post-pandemic laboratory pedagogy, and faculty development initiatives. Key contributions include designing virtual reality organic chemistry labs targeting underrepresented minorities and evaluating hybrid learning models during transitions from online to in-person instruction.

Dr. Gallardo-Williams leads initiatives to improve educational practices through faculty learning communities and scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) programs. Her work emphasizes meaningful learning in immersive environments, peer-generated instructional materials, and strategies for maintaining high-quality laboratory education in evolving academic landscapes.

Notable projects include Labapalooza (examining post-pandemic lab reintegration) and the TH!NK Researchers Program fostering educational research practitioners. She also advocates for safety compliance through descriptive feedback mechanisms in laboratory settings.