María Rosa García Vilardell

María Rosa García Vilardell is a full Professor in the Department of Ecclesiastical State Law and Canon Law at CEU Cardenal-Herrera University, Elche, affiliated with the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences. She holds a PhD and Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Alicante and currently serves as Director of the Department of Public Law and Coordinator of the Master's Degree in Law.

Her research focuses on Canon Law and Ecclesiastical State Law, with key areas including matrimonial law, religious freedom, church-state relations, religious heritage, pluralism, and the intersection of Catholic doctrine with environmental protection. She has led research initiatives through the Institute of Environmental Disciplines and Studies (IDEA), exploring the Holy See’s role in international environmental governance.

The recent publications reflect a consistent engagement with doctrinal and constitutional aspects of religious law, analyzing themes such as parental rights in religious education, cultural heritage protection, and environmental rights from a canonical and ecclesiastical legal perspective. Her work bridges theological principles with secular legal systems, particularly in pluralistic societies.

• Ángel Herrera Prize for best teaching achievement (2004/05), awarded by CEU San Pablo University Foundation

She has directed and coordinated numerous academic conferences and research projects, advised on ecclesiastical matters, and supervised academic programs. Her professional service includes leadership roles in university administration and active participation in the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante, where she currently serves as Auditor (Instructor), having previously been a Legal Advisor. She has conducted international research stays at prestigious institutions, contributing to global scholarly discourse in religious law.

She is affiliated with the Institute of Environmental Disciplines and Studies (IDEA), where she contributes to interdisciplinary research on religion and environmental policy.