Meet our Team

Maya Esquivido-Strom

Director of Tribal Government Affairs

Maya Esquivido-Strom is an enrolled member of the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation and a Hupa descendant with spousal ties to the Quinault Indian Nation. She has a Bachelor's in American Indian Studies, a Master of Social Work, and a Graduate Certificate in American Indian & Indigenous Studies (AIIS). Maya is a doctoral candidate in the Indigenous-Centered Educational Leadership Program at the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT), Muckleshoot Cohort, and was awarded the AIIS Pre-Doctoral Teaching Fellowship to teach American Indian Studies courses. 

Maya is the Director of Tribal Government Affairs at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Her work focuses on supporting the success of Native students by designing intentional pathways and fostering relational accountability through the development of authentic relationships between WA States' 34 community and technical colleges and the 29 federally recognized Tribes. 

Irene Shaver

Program Manager Tribal Stewards

Dr. Irene Shaver serves as the Program Manager for the Tribal Stewards Program at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. She has worked in Washington higher education for 9 years, supporting the improvement of teaching and learning, managing federal grants, and leading systemic change processes to increase equitable outcomes for all students in our community and technical colleges. She believes education should be accessible, place-based, experiential, culturally responsive, and transformative, and dedicates her work to that mission. Dr. Shaver holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, and master's and doctorate degrees in Environmental Sociology.

Courtnay Kamalei Nguyen

Administrative Assistant

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Courtnay is a graduate of Saint Martin's University with degrees in Psychology and Sociology. 

Courtnay began her career in 2018 working for Shoreline Community College as a Program Assistant. She then found her passion when she became the AANAPISI program coordinator serving the API community, attending seminars, and creating programs with her program director for the API students and community members. She was at Shoreline for four years before coming to SBCTC.

Courtnay’s hobbies include tennis, piano, and spending time with her energetic Border Collie named Kaia. Additionally, she is dedicated to helping API communities by going back to Hawaii every year to volunteer and assist in opportunities for various organizations, churches, and businesses.