Faculty and staff

Mariana Toniolo Barrios is an Assistant Professor of Human Resources and Organizational Studies at UFV School of Business. She holds a PhD in Management and Organization Studies from Simon Fraser University, and an MBA degree from The University of British Columbia.

Mariana’s research primarily focuses on employee well-being and mindfulness in the workplace, and she has published articles in various peer-reviewed journals. Mariana is passionate about teaching, and she is particularly enthusiastic about helping students take ownership of their learning. In her classes, Mariana makes the learning process relevant to students by creating lessons that build upon their prior knowledge and that relate to their backgrounds.

• Ph.D. in Management and Organization Studies, Simon Fraser University (SFU)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA), The University of British Columbia (UBC)

My teaching philosophy underscores the importance of all students feeling heard, valued, and respected. I have a philosophical view that effective teaching requires not only a substantial commitment to the content, but also providing students with ample opportunities to further engage with the class content. To that end, I not only share my content knowledge with students but also give them resources and tools that enable them to continue the learning process independently. Ultimately, my goal as a teacher is to better equip students to deal with real-life situations in their careers.

To keep students motivated and interested in the lessons, I encourage them to engage in goal-setting activities by giving them rubrics, prompts, and guidelines. For an effective learning environment, I ensure the creation of a safe space for all students where they feel welcome to take risks and try new things to enhance their learning. To promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in my classes, I follow the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, thus giving all students an equal opportunity to succeed. Finally, in my classes, I always offer a combination of lecture time and hands-on activities, which allows me to meet a broader range of students’ needs.  

My main research interest has been in the employee well-being research area, with a focus on the effects of mindfulness in the workplace. My goal in pursuing my research can be summarized as follows: to bring clarity to the construct of mindfulness and elucidate how mindfulness operates, so that employees and organizations can reap greater benefits from and avoid detrimental effects of the mindfulness practice.

I have published articles in leading peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Vocational Behavior and Personality and Individual Differences. I have also presented my research at prominent conferences, including at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting (AOM). Finally, I was a recipient of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship Award for my doctoral research.

Xu, M., & Toniolo-Barrios, M. (2024). Assessing the effect of self-recorded video assignment on students’ critical thinking skills. Accepted by 2024 CEEA (Canadian Engineering Education Association) Conference, Edmonton (CA).

Toniolo-Barrios, M., & Ten Brummelhuis, L.L. (2023). Unpacking the black box of mindfulness: The psychological mechanisms of mindfulness. In the Proceedings of the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Vol. 2023, Issue 1, Boston (US).

Ten Brummelhuis, L.L., & Toniolo-Barrios, M. (2023). The effects of work hours on physical thriving in male professionals: A testosterone and cortisol study. Symposium: No pain, no gain: Novel insights into a spectrum of wellbeing across vulnerable work experiences. In the Proceedings of the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Vol. 2023, Issue 1, Boston (US).

Rashkova, Y., & Toniolo-Barrios, M. (2023). The dynamic development of meaning of work: The role of organizational mindfulness. European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Colloquium, Cagliari (Italy).

Toniolo-Barrios, M. (2022). Is mindfulness good or bad for work motivation? The role of ambition as boundary condition. In the Proceedings of the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Vol. 2022, Issue 1, Seattle (US).

Toniolo-Barrios, M., & Ten Brummelhuis, L.L. (2022). Staying happy while working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic: Three brief interventions. Symposium: Novel Perspectives on Mental Health in the Workplace. In the Proceedings of the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Vol. 2022, Issue 1, Seattle (US).

Toniolo-Barrios, M., & Ten Brummelhuis, L.L. (2020). The benefits of a calm mind: Examining the effects of mindfulness on work stress. Southern Management Association, online due to Covid-19.

Ten Brummelhuis, L.L., Ter Hoeven, C.L., & Toniolo-Barrios, M. (2019). Staying in the loop: Is constant connectivity to work good or bad for work performance? Southern Management Association, Norfolk (US).

Toniolo-Barrios, M. (2019). Paying attention to mindfulness and its effects on work-related rumination and psychological detachment. Canadian Industrial Relations Association, Vancouver (CA).

Toniolo-Barrios, M., & Ten Brummelhuis, L. L. (2023). How does mindfulness reduce stress at work ? A two-study examination using a stress appraisal perspective. Personality and Individual Differences, 215, 112392, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112392

Ten Brummelhuis, L.L., Ter Hoeven, C. L., & Toniolo-Barrios, M. (2021). Staying in the loop: Is constant connectivity to work good or bad for work performance? Journal of Vocational Behavior, 128, 103589, 
1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103589

Toniolo-Barrios, M., & Pitt, L. (2021). Mindfulness and the challenges of working from home in times of crisis. Business Horizons, 64(2), 189-197.

Toniolo-Barrios, M., Brasil, A., & Pitt, L. (2020). Nine prolific years: An analysis of publications in Mindfulness. Mindfulness, 11(5), 1077-1089. doi: 10.1007/s12671-020-01321-w