Maria Kefalas, PhD, MA

Maria Kefalas, PhD, MA

Saint Joseph's University

Titles and Affiliations: 

• Founder, The Calliope Joy Foundation
• Professor, Saint Joseph’s University

 

Maria Kefalas studied economics at Wellesley College and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago. She worked at the Brookings Institution, held a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, and taught at Barnard College (Columbia University) before joining the faculty of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Kefalas is the author of numerous books and articles, and has received grants from the William T. Grant Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Department of Justice. Kefalas is the co-founder of the Calliope Joy Foundation and Cure MLD. She is a nationally recognized parent advocate for gene therapy who has spoken at the NIH, NORD, and the FDA.