Maria Wherley

Maria Wherley serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor and Writer-in-Residence at the John A. Dutton Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. Her work focuses on developing and maintaining online courses, conducting research, editing Dutton materials, and providing writing tutoring for online students.

She holds a B.S. in Secondary Education, English and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State. With over twenty years of teaching experience across diverse learner groups and subjects, she has also designed public school curricula at the state level.

Her research centers on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) issues, writing pedagogy, reflective journaling practices, science communication strategies, and learning science principles. These interests drive her contributions to online education development and faculty collaboration.

Maria actively chairs the College of EMS Diversity Council and participates in the Dutton Green Team, demonstrating leadership in institutional sustainability and inclusion initiatives. Her professional scope includes advising on course design, research partnerships, and educational resource development within the Dutton Institute framework.

Outside academic duties, she maintains personal interests in cycling, beekeeping, music, and outdoor activities while balancing family life with two grown sons.