Maria K. Lovett

Dr. Maria K. Lovett is a Clinical Associate Professor of Social Foundations and Urban Education in the School of Education and Human Development at Florida International University. She is a community-based educator and researcher and the faculty liaison to the South Florida Local Alliance for Math Literacy and Equity and works with the Algebra Project and Young People's Project locally and nationally. As a community-influenced educator and researcher, Maria employs Community Based Action Research  and Youth Participatory Action Research in the field.

Drawing from her backgrounds as a documentary filmmaker and educator and her experience documenting the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans she also uses a methodology she created called Video Action Research and Pedagogy to connect documentary production and critical pedagogical praxis to explore interdisciplinary ways of knowing and producing knowledge. Maria spent four years as the director and faculty liaison of The Education Effect, FIU's first university community school partnership with Miami Northwestern Senior High in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami. She has published several articles, book chapters and held conference presentations within the paradigm of social justice and education. Based on her engagement work in the community Maria received FIU's MLK Service Award, the University Faculty Engagement Award, and awards in engagement and teaching with the College of Arts, Sciences and Education.