Dr. phil. Maria Groinig, B.A. MA, is a humanities, social, and educational scientist, as well as an author, trainer, keynote speaker, and performance artist. She brings a diverse range of experience in research, teaching, project management, public speaking, leadership, applied practice, and professional training—both within and beyond academia. She is a founding member of CENTRAC, the Continental European chapter of Global INTRAC.
In her academic career, she contributed to research at the Institute of Educational Science and Research at the University of Klagenfurt, focusing on educational research, biography and network studies, and the evaluation of violence protection centers. At the Institute of Social Pedagogy and Organizational Studies at the University of Hildesheim, she worked on projects related to societal participation, relational transitions, life course research, and the reappraisal, intervention, and prevention of sexualized violence. As a Senior Research Associate at the Department of Social Work and Community Development at the University of Johannesburg, she was responsible for advanced academic publications and for conceptualizing and acquiring third-party funded projects (CLiP, Sounding Board, YUP, MENT, and DIGI-PPF).
She completed the Psychotherapy Preparatory Course (ÖGWG) in Austria and the Psychodrama Leader Training (DFP / FEPTO) in Germany, alongside numerous trainings in psychotraumatology, psychotherapy, research, professional development, teaching, and policymaking (OD). She is also a Certified Practitioner in Psychogenealogy and Transgenerational Therapy (Anne Ancelin Schützenberger International School | FEPTO), an (Ecobio-)Psychosocial Counselor (LSB), an Authorized Mountain Hiking Guide (Association of Carinthian Mountain Hiking Guides), and an Expert on the Power of Dignity, focusing on Education, Pedagogy, Health, and Personal Transformation.
