Maria Armoudian

Dr. Maria Armoudian is an associate professor in politics/international relations, Director of the University of Auckland Sustainability Hub, co-director of Nga Ara Whetu, Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society, the founding host/producer of the radio program, The Scholars' Circle, and the author of three acclaimed books, Lawyers Beyond Borders Advancing International Human Rights through Local Laws and Courts; Kill the Messenger: The Media’s Role in the Fate of the World; and Reporting from the Danger Zone: Frontline Journalists, Their Jobs and an Increasingly Perilous Future.

She has published widely on human rights, environmental politics, communication, and good governance. Before coming to Auckland, she served as a commissioner in the city of Los Angeles for six years and worked in the California State Legislature for eight years, working environmental sustainability to good government and corporate reform. In addition to her academic publications, her articles have been published by the Washington Post, the Columbia Journalism Review, Psychology Today, the New York Times Syndicate, the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, The New Zealand Herald, the Los Angeles Daily News, the Progressive, Salon.com, Truthout, Alternet, Inc., Daily Variety and Billboard. Maria is also a song-writer & musician. Her CD is titled Life in the New World.