Maya Drake

Biography

Maya Laurinaitis Drake joined the School of Architecture in November 2023 as an academic advisor. She has been working at UVA since September 2015, as a full-time staff person and general faculty. Maya’s primary role was working as an academic and study abroad advisor in the School of Engineering & Applied Science. Maya advised engineering students on their curriculum and education abroad opportunities. Maya also taught in engineering a STS 2500 level course, The Art of Storytelling: Producing Science and Engineering Documentaries. She has over 20 years of media experience that she enjoys sharing with her students.

Maya is an Emmy Award-winning documentary producer and educator. She has won numerous awards from film festivals around the world. At National Geographic, where she worked for 15 years, Maya developed keen editorial judgment, outstanding management skills, and deep experience in all aspects of production. She produced films for, National Geographic Explorer Series, PBS, National Geographic Channel and NBC Specials. She also worked at Discovery Communications, The Teaching Company (producer of The Great Courses series) and Sylvan Learning.

Maya established a faculty-led study abroad summer program in Lithuania. She is currently enrolled at Harvard Extension School working towards a master’s degree in environmental and urban sustainability.