Maia Chaka is the first African American female NFL on-field official. Chaka graduated from Norfolk State in 2006 with a degree in Health and Physical Education. NSU’s Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall is named after her great uncle who officiated 32 years of basketball and football in the CIAA.

After graduating, she became a high school physical education teacher in Virginia Beach, VA. Chaka began her officiating career at NSU through flag football and intramural basketball. She went on to officiate Pop Warner football games after graduating, which led her to become the first woman in Virginia to officiate a high school state championship. That helped her move up to Division I in Conference USA college football.

Chaka started up a nonprofit foundation — Make Meaningful Change. As a retired Virginia Beach educator, Make Meaningful Change gives her an outlet to continue caring for youth and supporting education.

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