Rate My Professor Maria Roca

Maria Roca is a founding faculty member in Social Science at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), joining in 1997 to launch the communication program in the College of Arts & Sciences. She serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Integrated Studies, former Chair of the department, and Director of the Roots of Compassion and Kindness (ROCK) Center. Prior to FGCU, Roca taught for eight years at the State University of New York at Oneonta and at numerous universities in New York, after spending ten years working in performing arts management in New York City. Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal and Public Communication with a minor in Theater from Purdue University, a Master’s degree in Performing Arts Management from New York University, and a Ph.D. in Media Ecology from New York University.

Roca’s research specializations and academic interests focus on media ecology, contemplative practices, compassion and kindness, listening and communication, environmental and sustainability education, civic engagement, and sustainability. She has taught the course “The Contemplative Life” for over 15 years, emphasizing mental health strategies and reflective development. As a former President of the International Listening Association, GreenFaith Fellow, and trainee with the Center for the Contemplative Mind in Higher Education, she contributes to community initiatives through the ROCK Center’s intergenerational programs like ROCK of Ages and her role on the Board of RESET SWFL, where she directs the Earth Moments project. Her honors include FGCU’s Professor of the Year Award, two McTarnaghan Awards for Excellence in Teaching, the Faculty Award for Service Excellence, the Chair Excellence Award, and the 2015 Rachel Carson Award for distinguished service to environmental and sustainability education. Key publications are “Ecology Meets Integral Ecology Meets Media Ecology: Education for Laudato Si’” with Peter Blaze Corcoran in the Journal of Communication and Religion (Summer 2021) and “Age of Clutter: Conducting Effective Research Using the Internet” with Charles J. Fornaciari. Roca’s work has profoundly influenced student growth in compassion and purpose at FGCU and beyond.