Maya Michelle Rockeymoore is a scholar and activist with expertise in an array of social and political issues facing our society.
Currently the Vice President of Research and Programs at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, she completed her Ph.D. in Political Science and Public Policy at Purdue University in 2000 after earning her M.A. in Political Science from Purdue in 1996 and a B.A. in Political Science from Prairie View A&M University in 1993.
Prior to joining CBCF, Maya served as the Senior Resident Scholar for Health and Income Security at the National Urban League Institute for Opportunity and Equality where she conducted research and analysis in a number of key policy areas and created a strategic plan for the League’s new health initiative.
A CBCF Legislative Fellow in 1997-98, Maya worked in the office of Congressmen Mel Watt (D-NC) as a Legislative Assistant responsible for advising the member on social security, health, welfare, and children’s issues.
From that position she quickly navigated her way through Capitol Hill, serving as a Professional Staff Member on the Social Security Subcommittee of the Ways & Means Committee and earning the coveted position as Chief Of Staff to Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), the powerful Ranking Member of the House Ways & Means Committee.
Since she began her career, Maya has been a staunch advocate with the aim of empowering the African-American community by bringing policy issues to the forefront of political debate. She has passionately and expertly championed topics such as political participation among youth, Welfare Reform, Social Security, HIV/AIDS, and the socio-economic impact of the War on Terrorism.
She is the author of The Political Action Handbook: A How To Guide For The Hip Hop Generation and co-editor of Strengthening Community: Social Insurance in a Diverse America. She is currently developing another book entitled, “State of Emergency: African Americans & the Politics of AIDS."
Her extensive knowledge and opinions have resulted in speaking appearances at the CATO Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Urban League, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference, and the National Institutes of Health-National Eye Institute. She has appeared on CNN, C-Span, Black Entertainment Television, and National Public Radio and has been quoted by The New York Times, the Associated Press, Cox News Service, Essence, Crisis and Self magazine and has had articles published in Savoy, State of Black America, and a number of journals and newspapers across the country.
Maya has been awarded the Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellowship, the National Conference of Black Political Scientists President's Award, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Legislative Fellowship and the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in Public Policy and International Affairs among other honors.
As a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance, the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, the American Political Science Association and other noted professional organizations, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore continues to utilize her vast knowledge, influence and energetic persona to shape political discourse and empower the masses. As a result, she is quickly emerging as one of the most important national leaders of the 21st century.