Maria Wallace

Maria Wallace is an Associate Professor in the Center for STEM Education at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), serving as Program Coordinator for the STEM Education Graduate Certificate with affiliate status in Women's & Gender Studies. Her work focuses on community-engaged research at the intersection of formal and informal science education through decolonizing practices and asset-based approaches in underserved contexts like Mississippi.

Education:

• B.S. in Geology from Millsaps College
• M.A.T. from Trinity University
• Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction (Curriculum Theory, Science Education, Women & Gender Studies) from Louisiana State University

Dr. Wallace's research examines 'in-between spaces' where identities, places, and conceptual development intersect in science educator preparation. She investigates power dynamics, equity, and justice through community-driven partnerships with informal science institutions, rejecting deficit narratives to advance culturally responsive science education. Her work emphasizes co-creation with K-12 educators, youth, and community stakeholders to reimagine teacher preparation.

Analysis of her 2022-2024 publications reveals a concentrated focus on reimagining science education within the Anthropocene through posthumanist and decolonial lenses. Key trends include examining community-university partnerships, affective dimensions of science identity, teacher preparation entanglements, and speculative methodologies that challenge Western epistemological dominance. Her work consistently integrates feminist theory and critical reflexivity to address systemic inequities.

Scientific Awards:

• 2023-2025 Early Career Fellowship Recipient - Education Research Track

Dr. Wallace advises graduate and undergraduate students through the NExUS-MS project and USM's STEM Education program, securing funding for community-engaged internships. Her collaborative grant work includes partnerships with the Hattiesburg Zoo and regional educational organizations focused on intergenerational science learning. She actively mentors students through research opportunities in the NExUS-MS R&D and Education & Outreach internships.

The NExUS-MS project she leads operates as a multidimensional research collective using 'double(d) science' methodology—simultaneously engaging applied research to address immediate educational challenges and theoretical work to develop new frameworks. This initiative builds regional models for intergenerational exchange between informal science institutions and teacher preparation programs, with current collaborations spanning student organizations, faculty networks, and community partners across Mississippi.