A former Senior Training Associate and worked in several research projects and divisions throughout the years.  Maria has six years of clinical experience, and she developed the Latino Initiatives at the Center. She trained people in the field of vocational psychiatric rehabilitation both nationally and internationally, in both English and Spanish. She developed training materials, both in English and Spanish. She was the Principal Investigator for a Field Initiated project funded by NIDRR. She was a Co-Principal investigator for phase I / II of Community Action Grant for System Changes within Massachusetts. She was responsible for coordinating the implementation of an exemplary practice that will be culturally competent and will meet the rehabilitation and recovery needs of the Latino consumers within the state. Maria strongly believes in the need to empower Latinos with psychiatric disabilities to recover and regain hope, and to gain equal access to rehabilitation services.

Dr. Farkas contributed to the establishment of the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. She has been the Co-Principal Investigator of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center since 1994 and a professor in Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University. She has authored and co-authored over 100 articles in professional journals, four textbooks, a dozen book chapters, and nine multi-media training package; and is on a myriad of editorial review boards and advisory boards. Dr. Farkas has been working in various capacities in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery that have enabled her to promote the use of effective strategies and programs with diverse populations around the globe. She has been the Vice President of the World Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR) and the President of the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (NARRTC and nd the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center in Psychiatric Rehabilitation. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to the field including a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of “…her outstanding contributions to the pre-eminence and practice of psychosocial rehabilitation.”