Maya Alexander has always had a connection to nature. Whether she was spending countless hours outdoors or studying the wonders of Earth science, she has always been captivated with the natural world. She attended Salisbury University and graduated in May 2016 with a B.A. in psychology. Maya puts her understanding of psychology into practice when teaching the public about sustainable behaviors that can improve the health of our planet, which she believes starts with education.
She was introduced to the environmental education field during her time as a Chesapeake Conservation Corps member serving her host site, Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in the Anne Arundel County Public School System from 2016 to 2017. It was here that she learned of her love for the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding watershed.
She continued to work at Arlington Echo for an additional year and a half as an environmental literacy assistant before moving on to work as an education specialist at the National Aquarium where she worked with youth in Baltimore. Over the past four years, Maya has worked to provide meaningful outdoor experiences to students throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A job she truly loves so much and is happy to continue to do so as the current Potomac River program manager/educator with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Maya is passionate about bringing diversity and inclusivity to the environmental field as she believes everyone deserves the right to a clean environment, specifically the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Through her work and related experience she hopes to encourage people from various backgrounds and ages to build relationships with the outdoors.
Since 2017 she has worked with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) as an affiliate member through their EE360 program to further develop and grow the environmental education field across the United States. Moreover, she is involved with the Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Green Schools Program. When she is not busy educating students, you can find Maya taking pleasure in nature photography, adventuring in the mountains and spending time with family and friends.