Mary Ann Maslak, Ph.D.

“I teach my students how to recognize inequalities and encourage them to identify ways of improving these conditions, especially as they relate to educational opportunities and experiences,” says Mary Ann Maslak, Ph.D., Associate Professor in St. John’s University’s School of Education.

The recipient of two Fulbright awards, Dr. Maslak has traveled the world to conduct research on girls’ and women’s education based on both the sociology of education and feminist theory. Her research has taken her to many countries including Nepal, China, Turkey and India.

She believes that her field work deepens her students’ awareness of social conditions. “The courses I teach delve into the foundations of education and the complex interrelationships between society, education and culture. I hope my actions, including field work, demonstrate the need for first-hand exploration of a scene in order to understand it whenever appropriate and possible.”

Having taught at the University for 10 years, Dr. Maslak says her career has been most affected by The School of Education’s recognition of the importance of international research, “Contributing to the large body of scholarly research, while seeing the implications for our own diverse populations locally and nationally, the University has generously supported my research.”

For her latest research project, Dr. Maslak journeyed to the Republic of Turkey where she completed an analysis of how well national laws reflect the rights of women and address social justice. She notes, “The courses I teach, including social studies methods, improve the analysis of multiple facets of human life. I hope my research and courses communicate the importance of studying women, minorities and underserved populations.”

In addition to teaching, Dr. Maslak is also a faculty mentor for the Inside St. John’s University mentor program. This program matches students interested in a particular field with professors with expertise in that discipline. “The student with whom I am currently working, Binh A. Nguyen, is a finance major with a strong interest in women’s education. Working directly with her helps bring a fresh perspective to my work; I hope to enable her to meet her goals and learn about the field.”

Dr. Maslak’s devotion to educating students about social injustices is indicative of her dedication to the University’s mission, “It is through teaching and mentoring that I hope to encourage students to embody the University’s mission, which is grounded in Vincentian social values. I believe everyone has a responsibility to work towards social justice.”