Scholar

Maya was born in Tennessee and spent part of her childhood in India before moving to Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from the University of Delaware’s Honors College in 2025 with a B.A. in Anthropology, along with minors in Spanish for Healthcare and Genetic Counseling. Maya's interest in genetic counseling was shaped by her family's experience with a rare genetic disorder and her commitment to education and outreach. Over the course of her undergraduate career, Maya pursued these interests by serving as a Social Justice Peer Educator, an English and Spanish instructor, and an Honors Teaching Fellow. She also volunteered as a victim advocate for the University of Delaware’s Sexual Offense Support helpline and as a bilingual crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. In addition to her advocacy work, Maya held leadership positions as president of two student organizations: the Mixed Race Student Union and the Future Genetic Counselors Club. Maya participated in research within the anthropology department, where she contributed to editing a faculty manuscript and investigated how simulation-based learning can enhance cultural humility within healthcare education. She also served as the first author of a publication on transitional care for individuals with Down syndrome, which deepened her insight into the unique challenges and support needs faced by individuals with genetic conditions as they navigate healthcare systems. Maya deepened her commitment to genetic counseling through a practicum at Christiana Care in Newark, DE, and through shadowing experiences in Pittsburgh, where she observed genetic counselors across multiple specialties. Outside of school and work, Maya enjoys long walks, cooking, and playing the piano. She is thrilled to join the UMB MGC program and continue her journey toward becoming a genetic counselor!