Bio
Mara Steiner serves as Associate Dean and Global Director of Student Life. She leads the design and implementation of global student experiences and oversees initiatives spanning student engagement, global civic learning, community development, cultural immersion, housing, and crisis management, working closely with university leadership and city teams around the world to create transformative educational experiences that extend beyond the classroom.
Mara has played a central role in building and expanding the university's distinctive global model. She has led the development of strategic partnerships with governments, NGOs, universities, and private-sector organizations across multiple countries, creating opportunities for students to engage with complex local and global challenges through experiential learning.
An expert in international education and program development in multicultural contexts, Mara brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning higher education and the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining Minerva, she served as the American Joint Distribution Committee's representative in Cuba, as Director of Programs in Austria for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and as Senior Consultant for the Latin American office of the American Joint Distribution Committee. Alongside her international leadership roles, she teaches undergraduate courses in the Department of Art History at the University of Buenos Aires.
Mara holds a B.A. in Art History from the University of Buenos Aires ,and an M.A. in Education from the JTS in New York. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in the History and Theory of Art Department at the University of Buenos Aires.
Her work focuses on creating educational experiences that prepare students to become thoughtful, ethical, and globally engaged leaders.
Research
- Steiner M, Ahuja A, Netto CLM, Terrana A, Stein GM, Kern SE, Kim R and Krupnick Walsh K (2022) An Outcomes-Based Framework for Integrating Academics With Student Life to Promote the Development of Undergraduate Students’ Non-cognitive Skills. Front. Educ. 7:782214. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2022.782214
This article examines how Minerva University intentionally integrates, teaches, and assesses non-cognitive skills throughout students' academic and experiential learning over four years by embedding clearly defined learning outcomes across the curriculum and student life. - Steiner, M., Davis, D., Erskine, M., & Lindo, J. (in press). Minerva University: Reimagining education in the global era. In B. E. Penprase, K. Farley, & S. P. Amjad (Eds.), American higher education abroad: Lessons in culture, curriculum and community.
This chapter focuses on the Minerva model, suggesting that globally-immersive, experiential education is no longer just a beneficial supplement; it is an essential evolution for the future of higher education.
Accomplishments
- Fellowship at the JTS, New York
- Alfredo Berlfein Fellowship, awarded by the American Joint Distribution Committee, Latin American Office
- Created innovative educational multicultural programs across Latin America and Europe