Maria Tsakiri

Maria Tsakiri is a Researcher at European University Cyprus within the Department of Education Sciences, School of Humanities, Social and Education Sciences. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences (University of Stirling, 2016) and has held roles such as Visiting Teaching Fellow at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and Collaborating Academic Staff at Frederick University (Cyprus). Her work focuses on disability representation in media, inclusive education policy, and disability activism.

Education qualifications include a PhD in Social Sciences (2016), MA in Education & Human Rights (2004, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens), and Ptychion in Early Years Education (2002, University of Thessaly).

Research interests center on disability representation in film and documentary, inclusive education frameworks, and the intersection of disability with social policy. She investigates how media shapes perceptions of disability and advocates for systemic changes in education and social services to promote equity.

Key research projects include 'Defiant Lives' (2018, University of Edinburgh) exploring disability activism, and 'Justice not charity' (2017, AHRC-funded) analyzing disability history. She also led independent studies on disability visual activism in Lebanon and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival's role in disability arts.

Awarded the Greek Foundation of Public Scholarships (I.K.Y) in 2004 for academic excellence, she is active in academic networks such as the Disability Research Network (University of Edinburgh) and serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Mediterranean Studies.