Mayerly “Maya” Smith is a research associate with the Economic Opportunities Program (EOP). Prior to joining EOP, Maya served as an English teaching assistant in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the Fulbright US Student Program. She was placed in the Universidade Federal de Lavras where she assisted in English classes and hosted cultural events for the whole Lavras community. In addition to her work on campus, she volunteered with Associação Sócio-Cultural Castelo São Jorge, a nonprofit in Lavras focused on preserving Afro-Brazilian culture. Before her time in Brazil, Maya worked as an associate with FSG Consulting, where she provided research and administrative support to her case teams. She had the opportunity to work with nonprofit organizations, foundations, and corporations addressing a wide array of social issues, including health equity, worker voice, and economic mobility.
Maya earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard College in 2020. In her free time, Maya enjoys listening to (too many) podcasts, knitting, and trying new restaurants (as an excuse to not cook at home).