Maya Grace Slaughter is a native of Orangeburg, SC. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College, where she studied political science with a concentration in Islamic civilizations and societies. In conjunction with her studies, she received a grant to fund her study of politics and oil in Kuwait, Dubai, and Qatar.
Prior to beginning her study of law, she was selected from approximately 57,000 applicants for Teach for America to join a national teacher corps of graduates who teach two years in under-resourced public schools. After completing her two-year commitment to Teach for America working as an elementary school teacher in Trenton, NJ, Maya worked as a family service coordinator at the OCAB Community Action Agency in Orangeburg. She is also the former director of communications and policy development for the South Carolina House Democratic Caucus, and previously served as state political director for Senator Elizabeth Warren.
She received her JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law. While attending USC she served as a Law School Ambassador, was elected as a representative for the law school’s Student Government Association, founded a pre-law mentorship program with the Black Law Student Association, earned a CALI award for academic achievement, and was awarded the Best Oralist award in the Kate Bockman Memorial Moot Court Competition for oral argument.
Maya clerked for the Richland County Public Defender’s Office and for local firms specializing in criminal defense. She also completed the Criminal Practice Clinic at USC which provides pro-bono legal services for indigent clients.
She is a former Miss Garden City, and enjoys volunteering with the Miss Orangeburg and Miss Garden City pageants in numerous community service projects.
