Dr Maria Nita

Personal statement

Dr Maria Nita is a Senior Lecturer in Humanities in The School of Writing, Publishing and Humanities. Maria teaches undergraduate students on the Religions, Philosophy and Ethics course, whilst taking part in research and outreach activities. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), having studied, worked and trained at Higher Education institutions in the UK and Romania.

Her research and publications are concerned with social scientific and interdisciplinary approaches to climate activism, green spirituality, contemporary Christian communities and organisations, art and performance festivals in Britain.

Academic qualifications

• 2013: PhD "Faith in Transition: Christian and Muslim Climate Activists", The Open University, UK
• 2006: MA in Contemporary Religions and Spiritualities, Bath Spa University
• 1999: BA in Philology, Letters and Theology, Licentiate in Philology, Ovidius University, Constanta, Romania.

Professional memberships

• SFHEA - Senior Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, UK (2021)
• ISSRNC - International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture, UK (2019)
• EFSRE - The European Forum for the Study of Religion and the Environment, Norway (2017)
• BASR - British Association for the Study of Religion, UK (2011)

Other roles

• Lecturer in Religious Studies, The Open University

Teaching specialisms

• Climate activism and green spirituality
• New age movement, the counterculture, alternative spiritualities
• Feminism and the Muslim world
• Religions of the Middle East
• Christianity and Islam in the contemporary world
• New Religious Movements
• Research methodologies and arts-based pedagogies