Rate My Professor Maya Machlev

Maya Machlev serves as Assistant Professor of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts at Fairmont State University, with her office located in room 102 of Hardway Hall. She earned her PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, where she conducted research as a graduate student. Her academic background also includes a BA in Psychology from Thiel College and an MA in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Prior to her appointment at Fairmont State University, Machlev was affiliated with the University of Northern Colorado, contributing to studies on teaching methodologies.

Machlev's research specializations and academic interests focus on instructional humor in educational environments, investigating its effects on student learning, motivation, emotions, and perceptions among teachers and students. Key publications include 'Understanding the Relationship Between Different Types of Instructional Humor and Student Learning' published in Sage Open in 2016, co-authored with Nancy J. Karlin, which analyzes the use and impact of diverse humor types in college classrooms. Another notable work is 'The Relationship Between Instructor Use of Different Types of Instructional Humor and Students’ Motivation to Learn,' appearing in College Teaching in 2017. She also published 'Humor Use in School Settings: The Perceptions of Teachers' in SAGE Open in 2021. Machlev has presented her research at multiple conferences, including the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association in 2015 and 2016 on humor's influence on student emotions, the Western Psychological Association in 2014, the Southeastern Psychological Association in 2024 with a presentation titled 'What Do You “meme”, We Can Increase Leadership Style Self-Awareness Through Memes' co-authored with students, and the American Educational Research Association. She contributes as a consulting editor and reviewer for the journal Educational Psychology published by Taylor & Francis. Additionally, Machlev has been featured in local media discussing mental health topics.