- Maya Rockeymoore
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Dr. Maya Rockeymoore 
Born Maya M. Rockeymoore
Wichita Falls, TexasResidence Washington, D.C. Nationality American Occupation Public policy expert and consultant Spouse Elijah Cummings Website Official site Dr. Maya Rockeymoore is an American policy scholar, noted speaker, author, and media commentator. She is best known as an advocate and analyst in the areas of health, income security, education, and civic engagement having appeared as a frequent contributor in print, television, and radio including CNN, Fox News, ABC News, National Public Radio, C-SPAN, BET, and Al Jazeera. Prior to her current position as President and CEO of Global Policy Solutions in Washington, DC, she served as Vice President for Research and Programs at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, as Chief of Staff to Congressman Charles Rangel (Democrat, NY-15) and as a professional staffer on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.[1]
Contents
Early life and education
Rockeymoore was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, but moved often as the daughter of an Air Force officer. She attended Prairie View A&M University where she majored in political science. At Prairie View, she was mentored by Dr. Jewel Prestage, the first African-American woman to earn her Ph.D. in political science in the U.S. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from Purdue University. During her graduate studies she worked as assistant to the Director of Marion County Health Department in Indianapolis and taught women's studies and political science courses.
Career
Maya Rockeymoore served as a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow working in the office of Congressman Mel Watt (Democrat, NC-12). From this position, she went on to become a professional staffer on the Ways and Means committee and Chief of Staff to Representative Charles Rangel. As Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor to Congressman Charles Rangel in the late 1990s, Dr. Rockeymoore helped facilitate passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act—the first-ever multi-lateral trade policy between the U.S. and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. After completing her dissertation, "The African American Political Response to HIV/AIDS: A Study of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 105th Congress," she went to work as Senior Resident Scholar at the National Urban League's policy think tank, and subsequently as Vice President for Research and Programs at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF). There she led the creation of the Foundation’s think tank—The Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR). She has authored and contributed to numerous publications, including her book, "The Political Action Handbook: A How-To Guide for the Hip Hop Generation."
Global Policy Solutions
Rockeymoore left the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in 2005 to start Global Policy Solutions, a social change strategy firm based in Washington, DC. The group provides policy analysis and research, program design and implementation, strategic leadership, coalition building, and communications for nonprofit and corporate clients. Past and present clients include the Alliance for Excellent Education, Global Justice, Eli Lilly and Company, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
Leadership for Healthy Communities
As part of her responsibilities at Global Policy Solutions, Dr. Rockeymoore serves as Director of Leadership for Healthy Communities, a $10 million national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designed to support local and state government leaders nationwide in their efforts to reduce childhood obesity through public policies that promote active living, healthy eating and access to healthy foods. The organization's focus, in particular, is on policy efforts that can improve nutrition and increase physical activity among children at high risk for obesity, especially African-American, Latino, Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander children living in low-income communities.
Personal life
Rockeymoore is married to U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (Democrat, MD-7). She resides in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
References
External links
- Washington Post: Be A Student of Yourself, August 6, 2010
- Global Policy Solutions
- Leadership for Healthy Communities
- Diane Rehm, NPR - Taking on Childhood Obesity, February 11, 2010
- The African American Political Response to HIV and AIDS: A Study of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 105th Congress
- Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Social Security of the House Committee on Ways and Means, May 17, 2005
- NPR-Candidates Wives Put Under the Microscope
Categories:- American political pundits
- American political writers
- Living people
- Purdue University alumni
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