Marya is the Associate Director of Operations and Student Services, where she leads the development, management, and execution of operations and processes for PhD students and postdoctoral research fellows. In this role, she applies her strong leadership skills, ability to collaborate across disciplines, and a systems-thinking approach to ensure that students receive comprehensive support. Her extensive experience in both academia and industry makes her particularly well-equipped to guide doctoral students through their educational and career paths.

She joined the PhD Network in the summer of 2024 after serving as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Bucknell University. Marya received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Marketing and Sociology from Arizona State University, earned her PhD in Sociology from Boston College, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School. She has also taught at Harvard, Wellesley, and Clark University.

Before transitioning to higher education, Marya built a diverse career in consulting, finance, and the non-profit sector, with experience at Vanguard, MassMutual, and Jane Doe, Inc.: The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. She also served on the advisory board for the Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship for three years and is currently on the board of directors for Bi Women Quarterly.

Originally from South Carolina, Marya has also lived in Arizona and South Africa. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, exploring nature, engaging with arts and culture, and spending time with her pets and her partner Michelle.