Maria Papadakis is the Associate Director for Project Planning and Administration at Princeton University. She manages mid- to long-term summer term planning, overseeing policy development and implementation for on-campus summer programs to ensure compliance and performance standards. Maria handles summer housing logistics, coordinates dormitory assignments, room and board charges, and residential life support, and streamlines the summer registration process for Princeton and visiting undergraduates. She also facilitates community engagement and ensures timely communication with campus partners.

She began her career at Columbia University, serving as Assistant to Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, managing high-profile communications and project management. She joined Princeton in 2006, where she has held multiple roles, including Academic Manager for the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Project Manager in the Office of the Vice President for University Services.

Maria has served on various committees at Princeton, including the Planning Committee for the Summer Institute for Academic Managers and the President’s Achievement Award Committee, where she served for three years after receiving the award in 2017. She has facilitated sessions for Wintersession and taught in the Princeton Management Development Certificate Program. Additionally, she was a Staff Fellow for the Scholars Institute Fellowship Program and served on the Steering Committee for the Academic Managers’ Group.

She holds a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Media from Hunter College, an M.A. in Higher & Postsecondary Education, and a Doctorate in Adult Learning & Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also has professional certifications in Policy Development and Administrative Management from Cornell University, and a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certificate from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

Throughout her tenure, Maria has driven significant advancements in academic administration, project management, and team leadership, enhancing institutional operations and student experiences. Passionate about higher education, she considers herself fortunate to work in this field every day.

Appointments

You can schedule an appointment with Maria at any time via Calendly.