Dr. Maria Shehade is Senior Research Associate at the CYENS Centre of Excellence, specializing in museology, digital cultural heritage, cultural policy and management and cultural diplomacy. She obtained her PhD in Cultural Heritage Management from University College London, and also holds an MA in Cultural Heritage Management from University College London and a BA in History, Archaeology and History of Art from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

She has extensive experience leading research and consultancy projects across the UK, Greece, and Cyprus, and also brings over a decade of university-level teaching experience, having taught in universities in both Cyprus and the UK. Her work bridges academic scholarship and applied practice, with a strong record in European and nationally funded research programs.

Her research at CYENS focuses on the intersections of museums, heritage management, and cultural policy, with particular emphasis on digital innovation in the cultural sector. She has conducted cutting-edge studies on new technologies for cultural heritage and GLAM institutions, including digital storytelling, immersive and multisensory experiences, visitor engagement, and the use of mobile and interactive applications. Alongside her academic work, Dr Shehade has led consultancy projects for museums and heritage sites, including the design of new museums and exhibition spaces and the incorporation of interactive technologies to enhance visitor experiences.

She has an extensive publication record on museums, cultural heritage, and cultural policy, contributing to both scholarly debates and professional practice. Her latest publications include the book Museums and Technologies of Presence, published in 2023 by Routledge, and the book Interactive Media for Cultural Heritage, published in 2025 by Routledge.

She is currently the Principal Investigator and Coordinator of the ClimAid project, funded by the Research and Innovation Foundation of Cyprus, which explores climate adaptation strategies for museums, advancing policy-relevant research at the intersection of sustainability and heritage resilience (https://climaid.cyens.org.cy/)