Maria Hadjipolycarpou

Candidate statement

Maria Hadjipolycarpou is Teaching Professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Champaign, where she serves as the Director of the Modern Greek Studies Program. Her work focuses on the intersection of narrative theory, pedagogy, and the transition from oral to written traditions, with a particular emphasis on fostering students’ critical thinking and ethical awareness. As a program builder, she has developed new curricula and an interdisciplinary minor. Her current research investigates the concept of the archive and its role in determining cultural memory and authority. Beyond the classroom, she advocates for feminist perspectives and the inclusion of peripheral, subaltern, and global south narratives in global literary studies. Maria is actively engaged in national scholarly networks, recently organizing professional panels for the Modern Language Association (MLA) conference and spearheading international lecture series featuring global scholars. If elected to the Board, Maria aims to strengthen the organization’s professional networks and support innovative pedagogical models that bridge the gap between academic research and local and global community engagements. She brings a wealth of experience in institutional leadership and strategic program development.