Dr. Maria Gintova is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Master of Public Policy in Digital Society program. She holds a PhD in Policy Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Master in Public Administration from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, State University of New York (Fulbright Graduate Student Scholar); and a Bachelors of Public and Municipal Administration from the School of Public Administration at the Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia.

Prior to joining McMaster University, Dr. Gintova worked for federal and Ontario provincial governments for 11 years. She held positions such as Senior Policy Advisor (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and Ministry of Long-Term Care), Senior Policy/Program Analyst (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services), Team Leader (Ministry of Transportation), and Immigration Officer (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). In addition to her full-time employment with the Ontario Public Service, Dr. Gintova taught at Toronto Metropolitan University and Humber College.

Her research and teaching focus on digital and open government, social media use in government, public administration, and social policy. Dr. Gintova is passionate about experiential and e-learning that is engaging, supportive, and recognizes students’ diversity.