Dr. Maria A. Petrova is a professor of sustainability, energy, and the environment with extensive academic, research, and consulting experience in climate policy, decarbonization, and energy transitions. Her work focuses on developing strategic frameworks for sustainable management, integrating climate and energy policy into institutional and corporate contexts, and applying interdisciplinary, evidence-based approaches to decision-making.
She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the American University in Bulgaria, an M.A. in Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations from the University of Sheffield, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Oregon State University. Dr. Petrova has taught and developed programs at leading international institutions, including Harvard University, Tufts University, and Georgetown University, where she launched and directed graduate programs, including the Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management.
Her research, teaching, and advisory work focus on sustainable management strategies, community engagement in renewable energy implementation, and sustainability practices across energy, food, and agricultural systems. She works closely with policymakers and organizations to advance practical, scalable solutions that reduce environmental impact. She is also a co-founder of PLΔNET, a platform dedicated to modeling and evaluating nature-based solutions for decarbonization and sustainable management of the built environment.