Maya Walton is the Hawai‘i Sea Grant Assistant Director for Research and Fellowships. She works closely with the director and associate director to coordinate the development, expansion, and delivery of evidence-based research, outreach, and education activities at Hawai‘i Sea Grant. Her work facilitates linkages among Hawaiʻi Sea Grant faculty and staff, university scientists, stakeholders, and the public to integrate all aspects of programmatic efforts. As the research coordinator, she acts as a liaison between researchers, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant extension faculty, and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and organizes the development and execution of the biennial request for proposals and proposal review. She also serves as the programmatic point of contact for several fellowships managed by Hawai‘i Sea Grant including the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, the Coastal Management Fellowship, the Sea Grant Fisheries Fellowship, and the Rappa Fellowship.

Maya completed her MS in zoology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where she researched coral reef ecosystem conditions and marine protected areas in Oʻahu. In 2014, Maya completed the Knauss Fellowship in NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries headquarters office as a member of the Conservation Science Division.