Maya is a Miami, Florida native that received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology and earned multiple science credits from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. During her undergraduate career, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica. There she studied the Spanish language and Latin American culture through a scholarship program called Global Citizenship Program. After college, she gained informal education experience through working at museums in the Miami area, including HistoryMiami Museum and Frost Science Museum.Maya later joined the Peace Corps to be a science education volunteer in Mozambique, East Africa. She spent 7 months in Mozambique studying the culture, Portuguese language, and serving as a Chemistry teacher and English tutor. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic Maya, along with all other Peace Corps volunteers were globally evacuated. Although her service was cut short, her time and experience in Mozambique were extremely impactful. Maya went on to co-found a non-profit organization called Golden Aya. Golden Aya is a Pan-African organization dedicated to connecting Africa and the African diaspora. Golden aims to improve the collective condition on the continent of Africa and in diaspora communities through innovative Education, Health, and Development initiatives supported by volunteerism. Golden Aya’s vision is a united, educated, and self-sustained Africa and African diaspora that leads the charge in achieving world peace!