Maria Roca

Maria Roca, Ph.D., serves as Director of the Roots of Compassion & Kindness (ROCK) Center at Florida Gulf Coast University's College of Arts & Sciences. As a founding faculty member of FGCU, she has established herself as a leader in contemplative education and ecospirituality.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Media Ecology from New York University
• M.A. in Performing Arts Management from NYU
• B.A. in Interpersonal and Public Communication from Purdue University

Professor Roca's research focuses on the intersection of contemplative practice, environmental sustainability, and compassion education. Her work explores how contemplative methods can foster ecological awareness and compassionate action. She has particular expertise in ecospirituality, listening practices, and historical examinations of concepts like the Seven Deadly Sins.

As Director of the ROCK Center, she oversees initiatives that received $250,000 in grant funding, demonstrating significant institutional support for her work in compassion education. She has also trained with the Center for the Contemplative Mind in Higher Education and serves as a GreenFaith Fellow.

Notable Awards:

• Professor of the Year Award (1997-1998)
• Multiple McTarnaghan Teaching Excellence Awards (2002-2003, 2015-2016)
• Rachel Carson Award for environmental education (2015)
• Chair Excellence Award (2018-2019)

Beyond her academic work, Professor Roca serves on the Board of RESET SWFL and is the mother of Alissa, a professional opera singer.