Maya Chavis (she/her)
is the North Carolina Deputy State Director at Rise. Born and raised in Greensboro, NC, Maya’s educational journey has been shaped by her experiences as a first-generation college student, where she has encountered firsthand the challenges of navigating a higher education burdened by the rising costs.
Maya’s academic path began at the STEM Early College at NC A&T State University, where she was able to earn two years of college tuition-free. This opportunity shortened her undergraduate journey but provided a solid foundation for her future. In just two years, Maya earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in 2023. She is currently pursuing a law degree at NCCU School of Law, where she continues to deepen her understanding of legal issues that intersect with social justice and policy.
Throughout her career at Rise, Maya has been deeply committed to organizing and mobilizing students across North Carolina. She has worked with universities such as North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, leading efforts to engage students in activism around college affordability and student debt issues.
Maya has been featured in prominent publications like Teen Vogue and Ignite, where she has written and spoken about the mental health toll of student debt and the urgent need to rethink the normalization of borrowing for education. She was also featured in a short film produced by the American Issues Initiative for Ignite National, further amplifying her voice in the fight for equitable access to higher education.
As a passionate advocate for student debt reform, college affordability, and student political power, Maya continues to use her outreach to push for systemic change, ensuring that the voices of students are heard and their needs are prioritized in policy discussions.
