Skip to main content

Individual Studies Staff

Dr. Burton at the Capital BuildingJoan B. Burton, Ph.D., Director, Individual Studies Program
Joan B. Burton is Director of the Individual Studies Program as well as the Federal Fellows Program and Global Fellows in Washington, D.C. She is also Affiliate Professor of Classics at the University of Maryland and serves on the Office of Undergraduate Studies Administrative Council. She has a passion for interdisciplinary studies and for empowering students, and is a very strong advocate for public service. In 2012 and 2016, Dr. Burton was named a Philip Merrill Presidential Faculty Mentor, and in 2012, was inducted into ODK. Prior to moving to Maryland, she was full professor and chair of Classical Studies, and also co-founded and served as Director of Comparative Literature at Trinity University, San Antonio. She has also held teaching appointments at Howard University and at the University of California, at Berkeley and at Santa Cruz. Dr. Burton has research interests in Greek cultural history. In addition to articles and book chapters, her publications include Theocritus’s Urban Mimes: Mobility, Gender, and Patronage (1995) and A Byzantine Novel: Drosilla and Charikles (2004). She was a Mellon lecturer in 2002 and has worked closely with museum communities, including as guest curator. She has played violin in benefit concerts at the Kennedy Center in honor of the Wounded Warrior Project. Burton received her Ph.D. in Classics (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of California, Berkeley.

Lori in Blue DressLori Praniewicz, Assistant Director
301-314-0023 | ljusie1@umd.edu
Lori Praniewicz is the Assistant Director of the Individual Studies Program. She has been with the program since 2011, serving first as Coordinator. Lori earned a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Science Education from the University of Maryland. She also earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Towson University as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate in E-Learning from UMBC. A New Jersey native, Lori came to Maryland to pursue a teaching career and never left! At home, she lives with her husband and two daughters. Lori enjoys skiing, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Marissa in Blue ShirtMarissa Sariol-Clough, Graduate Assistant
301-314-0023 | sariolmr@umd.edu
Marissa Sariol-Clough is the Graduate Assistant in the Individual Studies Program. She is a 4th year PhD student studying Education Policy and Leadership at the University of Maryland. Prior to moving to Maryland, Marissa lived in North Carolina where she earned her M.A. in Experimental Psychology, with a focus on developmental psychology from Appalachian State University. She also attended James Madison University where she earned a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Statistics and Business. Marissa’s research interests range from early childhood education to developmental psychology and teacher preparation for the workforce. Specifically, she is interested in how experiencing poverty and being low-income impacts children’s social, cognitive, and physical development and how education policies can reduce the negative impacts of poverty on children’s long-term development. This includes addressing barriers to parent involvement in education, access to high quality healthcare and childcare, and providing low-income schools with resources equivalent to their middle- and high-income peers, e.g., high quality books and teachers, up-to-date technology, adequate school buildings, and creating a supportive school culture. In her free time Marissa likes to hike with her dog and partner, travel domestically and internationally, and explore breweries and wineries.