Celebrating Dr. Dora Maya: A Trailblazer in Child Welfare Leadership
This Women’s History Month, Arden Shore is proud to celebrate Dr. Dora Maya, Arden Shore’s President and CEO, who was recently featured in the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County’s (HFNLC) Women’s Herstory Month Newsletter. Dr. Maya was recognized for her decades of leadership in child welfare and mental health, particularly her commitment to equity and bilingual services for Latino families.
As we celebrate her legacy this Women’s History Month, we invite you to read HFNLC’s full newsletter here and the full interview below.
Dr. Dora Maya
What is your favorite thing about leading your organization and/or working with the populations served by your program, and what will you miss the most?
One of my proudest achievements as a leader has been establishing Arden Shore’s Latino Initiative in the early 2000s, which laid the foundation for the organization’s deep commitment to serving Latino families. We deliberately invested in bilingual staff, using endowment funds to build a team to meet families in their language and culture. This initiative led to the creation of Arden Shore’s Intact Family Preservation program with DCFS. Over time, we became the primary child welfare provider for Latino families in Northeast Illinois. More than just expanding services, this initiative set a precedent for Arden Shore’s values—ensuring every family, regardless of background, has access to compassionate, culturally responsive care.
What I will miss most is the people. For 21 years, I commuted from Chicago to Waukegan every day, and not once did I regret coming into the office. I knew I was exactly where I belonged. I have no regrets because I had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary team of dedicated professionals who do a difficult and often thankless job. They witness hardship and trauma daily, yet they continue forward because they believe in the mission at their core. Their resilience and heart have driven Arden Shore’s impact, and I will deeply miss this family.
What is one leadership lesson that you have learned on your journey that you would like to share with girls and women who are earlier in their own leadership journeys?
Set clear priorities, be confident, and trust yourself. Leadership requires making tough decisions, and it’s essential to stay true to your values and not be swayed by pressure or fear. Especially in mission-driven work, setting priorities is key—strong organizations create the most significant impact, and leadership requires making decisions that ensure long-term sustainability. The best leaders surround themselves with people who share their commitment to the mission, encourage healthy debate, and challenge them in ways that foster growth—not in ways that undermine or manipulate. Stay focused on the greater purpose, and don’t compromise your integrity to appease others.
While it may not be new advice, I still find it necessary to remind women in leadership that confidence is not aggression and strength is not a flaw. Women have been navigating this double standard for generations, but that doesn’t make it any less real. Don’t waste energy softening yourself to be more palatable—own your decisions, trust your expertise, and lead with conviction.
Would you like to share any big plans after you retire?
I am looking forward to a new chapter—relocating to Puerto Rico, traveling, and spending time with my family. I am especially excited to welcome my first grandchild this spring and to embrace every moment I can with him and my loved ones. After decades of service, this next phase will be one of adventure, rest, and most importantly, love.