Expertise
Industrial Engineering, Human Factors, Engineering Education, and Broadening Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Research Interests
My research interests span industrial engineering, human factors and ergonomics, usability engineering, design and emotion, and engineering education. My work explores diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in engineering education and healthcare, with particular emphasis on broadening participation and fostering belonging in STEM. I am especially interested in research and practices that support the academic and professional success of women, first-generation college students, and students from historically underrepresented groups in engineering and STEM. My research also examines the human-centered design of systems, products, and experiences, including how usability, human factors, and emotional responses can inform more effective, inclusive, and equitable solutions.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering - The Pennsylvania State University (2010)
- Master of Science: Industrial and Management Engineering - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2006)
- Bachelor of Science: Industrial Engineering - University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez (2003)
Biosketch
Maria A. Velázquez is an associate teaching professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell, with a strong commitment to engineering education, curriculum innovation, student success, and broadening participation in STEM. A first-generation college student born and raised in Puerto Rico, she brings a personal understanding of the transformative role that education, mentorship, opportunity, and a strong sense of belonging can play in a student's academic and professional journey.
Her work at UMass Lowell includes the development and implementation of the mechanical and industrial engineering design course sequence, as well as leadership in the modernization and continued development of the industrial engineering curriculum and its alignment with Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation requirements. Her teaching and curriculum-development efforts emphasize experiential learning, engineering design, critical thinking, human-centered problem solving, and the preparation of students for contemporary engineering practice.
Beyond the classroom, Professor Velázquez is deeply engaged in undergraduate research, mentoring, and initiatives designed to expand access to meaningful STEM experiences. She serves as a faculty mentor for the STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Training and Excellence Program) into research program and supports students through River Hawk Scholar Academy (RHSA) Roads to Research. She is also a Clare Boothe Luce Professor in the Francis College of Engineering, supporting efforts to advance the participation and success of women in engineering.
Nationally, she serves as a director-at-large for the American Society for Engineering Education's Women in Engineering Division (ASEE-WIED) and as a member of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) Professional Development Committee. Through these roles, she contributes to national efforts focused on advancing women, strengthening professional development, broadening participation, and fostering more inclusive and supportive environments in engineering and STEM.
Her current scholarly interests include developing and evaluating evidence-based and data-driven pedagogical strategies that strengthen student engagement, self-efficacy, sense of belonging, and academic success, particularly among women, first-generation college students, and students from historically underrepresented groups in STEM. Across her teaching, mentoring, research, and service, she is committed to creating rigorous and supportive learning environments that empower students to recognize their potential, develop confidence and identity as engineers, and successfully pursue their academic and professional goals.
Selected Awards and Honors
- Excellence in Teaching Award – Norm Asbjornson College of Engineeirng – May 2020.
- Montanan State University Presidential Excellence in Teaching Award – January 2021.
- Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship: August 2008 – December 2010.
- General Electric Foundation Fellowship: August 2006 – May 2006.
- Graham Endowed Fellowship: August 2006 – May 2006.
- William & Barbara Keefauver Scholarship in Engineering – August 2006 – May 2006.
- GEM Fellowship – May 2005.
- AT&T Laboratories Fellowship for Underrepresented Minorities: August 2005 – May 2008.
- Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professorate (AGEP) Fellowship: August 2004 – May 2005.
Selected Publications
- Dorsey, R., Claudio, D., Petersen, P., and Velazquez, M. (2022.) Identifying Service Gaps Between Patients and Providers in a Native American Outpatient Clinic. Submitted for review to Ethnicity & Health.
- Oquendo-Colón, N. O., Medina, L. A., Velazquez, M. A., Claudio, D., & Santiago-Roman, A. I. (2021). Women’s autonomy, relatedness and competence: A comparison of engineering programs in two different cultures. 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access. American Society for Engineering Education.
- Moyce, S., Velazquez Perez, M., Claudio, D., Thompson, S., Metcalf, M., Aghbashian, E., Vanderwood, K., and Sisson, N. (2021). Exploring a rural Latino community’s perception of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethnicity & Health, 26(1), 126–138.
- Moyce, S. C., Sisson, N., Thompson, S., Velazquez, M., Claudio, D., Aghbashian, E., Demorest, H., & Vanderwood, K. (2021). Engaging Latinos in an academic-community partnership in Montana through a health screening event. American Journal of Health Education, 52(2), 72–79
- Sisson, N., Moyce, S., Velazquez Perez, M., Claudio, D., Thompson, S., Aghbashian, E., and Vanderwood, K. Engaging Latinos in an academic-community partnership in Montana, USA through a health screening event. American Journal of Health Education.
- Schell, W., Sobek, D. & Velazquez, M.A. (2016). Educating Tomorrow’s Engineer: Adding Flexibility Through Student-Defined Electives. Quality Approaches in Higher Education, 7, 12-22.
- Claudio, D., Velazquez, M. A., Bravo-Llerena, W., Okudan, G. E., & Freivalds, A. (2015). Perceived usefulness and ease of use of wearable sensor-based systems in emergency departments. IIE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors.
- Page, L. T., Velazquez, M., & Claudio, D. (2014). Using abstraction hierarchy as a structured approach in verifying data quality in driving research. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 58(1), 2210–2213.
- Page, L. T., Velazquez, M., & Claudio, D. (2014). Collecting non-experimental driving behaviors: A method leading to external validation of experimental outcomes. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 58(1).
- Page, L. T., Velazquez, M., & Claudio, D. (2014). What does ecological validation mean in transportation safety research? Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Human Factors in Transportation, Kraków, Poland.
- Ward, N. J., Velazquez, M., Mueller, J., & Ye, J. (2013). Response interference under near-concurrent presentation of safety and non-safety information. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 21, 253–266.
- Velazquez, M., Okudan Kremer, G. E., & Freivalds, A. (2011). The effect of emotion in perceived usability of smart phones. Proceedings of the 61st Annual Conference of the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
- Claudio, D., Velazquez, M.A., Bravo-Llerena, W., Okudan, G.E., & Freivalds, A. (2010). An Empirical Study on the Perceived Usefulness of Wireless Technologies to Improve Patient Care in the Emergency Department. Submitted for review to IIE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering.
- Claudio, D., Velazquez, M. A., Bravo-Llerena, W., Okudan, G. E., & Freivalds, A. (2010). Usefulness of wireless technologies to improve emergency department’s patient care. Proceedings of the 2010 Industrial Engineering Research Conference.
- Velazquez, M., Claudio, D., & Ravindran, A.R. (2010). Experiments in Multiple Criteria Selection Problems with Multiple Decision Makers. International Journal of Operational Research, 7(4), 413-428.