PETAL Team

Laura Kohn Wood

Dean, School of Education and Human Development

Dr. Kohn-Wood is currently a Professor and Dean of the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami (UM). Dr. Kohn-Wood previously served as chair of the Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, the founding program director of the Master’s in Community & Social Change program and, with colleagues, developed the Ph.D. Program in Community Well-Being at the University of Miami. She also previously held the title of Associate Vice Provost for the Office of Institutional Culture, served as the Senior Resident Faculty of Pearson Residential College and was the Inaugural co-Chair of the University’s Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. Kohn-Wood received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Community Psychology, from the University of Virginia in 1996 and completed an internship at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Kohn-Wood’s research program Race, Ethnicity, Culture and Promotion of Strengths (RECAPS) focuses on race, ethnicity, and culture in relation to the experience of psychological phenomena among diverse populations, with an emphasis on race-based protective factors and the promotion of positive coping and mental health among African Americans. 

Matt Acevedo

Assistant Provost, Educational Strategy

Matt Acevedo is the Assistant Provost for Educational Strategy at the University of Miami, where he contributes thought leadership to strategic projects and initiatives that are core to advancing the teaching mission of the University of Miami, including the Platform for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (PETAL), UOnline, lifelong learning and executive education, and collaborative international online learning (COIL). He also teaches in UM’s Applied Learning Sciences doctoral program.

Prior to joining the Office of the Provost, Matt was the Executive Director of Learning Innovation and Faculty Engagement in the Department of Information Technology, where he directed educational technology, instructional design, and faculty development initiatives; oversaw strategic student technology experience enhancement efforts; and led the IT working group for the Academic Collaboration and Research Network (ACoRN), the University’s dedicated research network infrastructure.

Matt's professional and scholarly interests include instructional design, faculty development, critical pedagogy, computer-mediated learning, and qualitative research in teaching and learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Florida International University, where he earned the College of Arts, Sciences & Education Best Dissertation award in 2019 for his study exploring faculty members’ experiences with distance learning quality assurance audits. He also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, a Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology, and a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design for Simulations from the University of Central Florida.

Outside of work, Matt is a dedicated student and practitioner of iaido, the traditional Japanese martial art of samurai swordsmanship, holding a rank of nidan (second degree black belt) from the All United States Kendo Federation. He is also a road cyclist, a lover of science fiction, and a dog dad to a rescue named Fluffy.

Maria Kolovou

Sr. Instructional Designer, Quality Enhancement Plan

Maria Kolovou holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s in applied genetics and biotechnology, a master’s in drama in education, and a Ph.D. (from the University of Miami) in Teaching and Learning. She has worked as a science teacher for 13 years and has developed and applied science teachers' professional development workshops and seminars for four years.  

In her work, she designs innovative curricula that integrate the arts, the humanities, and the sciences. She strives to create meaningful learning environments, grounded in rich perceptual and sensorimotor experiences, in accordance with sociocultural, situated, and embodied theories of learning. To analyze learning in her designed learning environments, she has used design-based research, case study designs, grounded theory approaches, and interaction analysis, and has published her research in high-impact educational journals.  

She has a longstanding commitment to equity. Over the course of 13 years, she has led community-school partnerships and community theater projects funded by the European Union to affirm the voices of teenage immigrant female youth in Greece. Her research has aimed to redefine education for students who become marginalized from traditional lecture-type and sedentary approaches. 

Sarah G. David 

Administrative Assistant

Sarah joined the University of Miami in October 2023, as the Administrative Assistant for the Platform for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (PETAL), the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), and the Innovation, Technology, and Design Program (ITD). Sarah comes from Florida International University with over 21 years of experience under Student Affairs working under the Women’s Center, Campus Life/Student Activities, and Orientation. Sarah received her Psychology degree from FIU and also holds an Associates in Fashion Design.

Kimberly McGrath Moreira

Kimberly McGrath Moreira (she/her/hers) is a Department of Writing Studies Senior Lecturer and Associate Faculty in Pearson Residential College. She earned her BA (Honors) in Political Science and a Master’s in Education with a focus on teaching, learning, and applied linguistics in Canadian universities, where she was born. Her long-time tenure at UM also encouraged her to pursue a certificate in Enrollment Management studying the history and systems of higher education administration as they apply to student success.

As a senior global educator who has taught at Harvard University, Boston University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and in Japan, she has built knowledge and expertise in community engaged teaching and learning; English language learning, composition, and writing studies; curriculum development and teacher training with an active learning and student-centered pedagogy; and most recently, supporting student success through a residential college model. She has presented at many conferences around engaged classroom practice with non-native English speakers preparing for American college study as well as the role of community-engaged writing classes toward student success. All global and local professional experiences have continued to inform her passion for student centered and cross-cultural education, facilitate ease in communicating with people from diverse backgrounds, and inspire continuous learning and search for professional excellence connected to diversity, inclusion, and community building. Kimberly genuinely loves teaching and mentoring students in community outreach connected to building writing and communication skills, as well as the opportunity to build professional connections to the work of all faculty on our campus. She is excited to be a member of this newly created faculty fellowship in PETAL and invites you to come join us in one of the many innovative workshops, conversations, and opportunities for collegial discussion and mentorship. 

Nadia J. Gal

The PETAL Advisory Committee supports the ongoing development of innovative and collaborative teaching and learning initiatives across all University of Miami campuses. The committee is dedicated to promoting “second-order” institutional change that re-centers teaching and educational development as part of UM’s larger organizational mission to shape the educational revolution.  The committee is proudly composed of representatives from the Gables, Medical, and RSMAS campuses. All committee members are involved in leading, overseeing, facilitating, coordinating, and/or planning PETAL programs, events, and resources. The committee meets at least bi-semesterly each academic year.  For more information and/or how to get involved, please email petal@miami.edu.