About

Education

Ph.D. in Philosophy – Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
J.D. in Law – Saint Louis University
M.A. in Philosophy – Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
B.A. in Philosophy – Mansfield University
B.A. in Music – Mansfield University

Publications

Sanders, Maria. Aristotelian-Inspired Model for Curtailing Academic Dishonesty in the United States. UMI Dissertation Publishing Ann Arbor: MI.2012.

 Sanders, Maria. “Embracing Critical Thinking as a Model for Professional Development: Creating CTB-FLCs On Your Campus.” Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines, 26(1), 29-37. Spring 2011.

Sanders, Maria & Moulenbelt, Jason. “Defining Critical Thinking: How Far Have We Come?” Inquiry: Critical Thinking       Across the Disciplines, 26(1), 38-46. Spring 2011.

Sanders, Maria & Thorsby, Mark. “Broaching Fragmented Learning: Principles for Reflective Learning in the Cyber-age.” INTED 2011, 5th ed. e-book. March 2011.

Sanders, Maria. “Comprehensive Planning: The Freeburg Experience.”Municipal Affairs Bulletin, 15 (3), 2-5. Fall 1998.

Honors and Awards

President's Good Steward Award, Campus Compact for New Hampshire, 2014

Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award Nominee, 2011/2012

National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Faculty Excellence Award, 2011.

Lone Star College System’s Faculty Excellence Award, 2011

South Texas College’s Jaguar Award for Instructional Services, 2006

Morris Eames Graduate Award in Philosophy, 2000

Saint Louis University School of Law’s Outstanding Achievement in Criminal Jurisprudence, 1996

Saint Louis University School of Law’s Outstanding Achievement in Copyright Law, 1996

John Rutherford Ott Award in Philosophy, 1990

Dr. Maria Sanders is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and coordinates the Philosophy program at Plymouth State University. As an applied ethicist, her research engages the public in scholarly philosophical dialogue within the areas of medicine, business, education, and law while encouraging thoughtful interaction with existing and emerging technologies in an attempt to create opportunities for civic engagement and reflective living.

In addition, Dr. Sanders is an award-winning teacher who has taught at the college level in both the community college and university systems for over 20 years. She has taught nationally in Illinois, Missouri, Texas, and New Hampshire; and internationally in Greece, Turkey, England, Scotland, and Ireland. She recently led a major revision of the Philosophy program at Plymouth State University to focus upon Applied Ethics that resulted in 18 new courses. Dr. Sanders is passionate about building bridges between philosophy and other programs such as nursing, business administration, and criminal justice; and finding ways for her students to take what they learn in the philosophy classes and apply it to the real world through service learning, internship, and other collaborative opportunities.