Maya was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and later moved with her family to Hawai'i. Maya has a Masters degree in Secondary Education from NYU and a PhD in Educational Foundations and Multicultural Education from the University of Hawai'i. Her doctoral research explored multicultural identity in the 21st century and the power of narrative in multicultural education.

From 1996 to 2000, she taught and developed curriculum at a progressive public middle school in New York City. From 2000 to 2006, Maya was a lecturer in the University of Hawaii's College of Education where she taught multicultural education and educational theory. She also taught at the UH Lab School and La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls, where she facilitated classes on World Cultures, US History and the Constitution, and Peacemakers, a course she designed on peace education. Maya currently serves on several educational non-profit boards, and is an advocate for community service and involvement in education.

Additionally, Maya is a writer, working on publishing her first books. Her first picture book, "Ladder to the Moon" was published by Candlewick Press and can be ordered on Amazon. She is working to complete her book on Peace Education as well as a YA novel, tentatively entitled "Yellow Wood". She is married to Konrad Ng, and they have two precocious daughters, Suhaila and Savita.

Education Professionals, Teacher Education, Education Motivation, Civil Rights, Politics, Asian Culture & Heritage, Hawaii, African-American Culture & Heritage, Education Industry, Education