About Me

Hi, I’m Maya (pronounced May-uh)! I am a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Political Science and Social Data Analytics at Penn State University. I also hold an M.A. in Political Science from Penn State University and a B.A. in Politics and International Affairs from Wake Forest University. I am a recipient of the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) from the National Science Foundation. I have experience with network analysis, data visualization, machine learning, and text analysis. I’m passionate about solving problems which benefit others. Previously, I worked as a graduate intern for the National Endowment for the Humanities (2024) and for the United States Government as an Analytical Methodologist (2025). My research uses a variety of quantitative techniques to investigate the causes and effects of electoral violence. In my dissertation I examine this topic from three angles: (1) civilians and their preferred strategies for electoral contention; (2) investigating the network of perpetrators and their targets; and (3) probing the relationship between gender quotas and electoral violence.

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