Maya Elson

As an organizer, researcher, and educator, my work is rooted in the belief that human ingenuity and environmental stewardship are most powerful when informed by both Indigenous wisdom and rigorous scientific inquiry.

I earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College in 2009, with a focus on Field Biology and Environmental Justice. During nine years in Olympia, Washington, I was deeply engaged in climate and forest activism, which shaped my commitment to community-based, science-backed solutions. I co-founded the Radical Mycology network, where for eight years I led applied mycology projects and educational programs that bridged grassroots organizing, ecological restoration, and public education.

Since joining CoRenewal (formerly the Amazon MycoRenewal Project) in 2012, I have been involved in interdisciplinary research and regeneration initiatives, including serving for five years as Executive Director. I am currently an MS in Environmental Studies candidate at San Jose State University. My graduate thesis is part of CoRenewal’s FENiXS Project, where I have participated in four previous studies investigating the use of beneficial microbes for erosion control, contaminant mitigation, forest fuel reduction, and ecological regeneration. This work directly supports my long-term goal: expanding ecologically based, science-supported tools for wildfire resilience. I have contributed to wildfire mitigation and bioremediation efforts in Los Angeles, Hawai‘i, Canada, Greece, and Lebanon, and aim to scale this impact further.

Complementing my scientific work, I hold a Graduate Certificate in Ecopsychology and have spent over 18 years facilitating nature connection. Through my company, MycoPsychology Experiences, I integrate human and ecological healing by teaching mycopermaculture, fungal biology, mycoremediation, and regenerative mushroom foraging—advancing solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

May 2026