Education
S.J.D.  Doctor of Juridical Science. Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy, The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (2012)

J.D. The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (2010) Dean’s List (2010)

A.B. Dartmouth College (2005). Honors: Religion (2005)

Employment

Program Manager, Indigenous Governance Program, Native Nations Institute, University of Arizona (2016 – Present)

Assistant Lecturer, American Indian Studies Program, University of Wyoming (2016)

Associate Director, The High Plains American Indian Research Institute, University of Wyoming (2014 – 2016)

Post-Doctoral Fellow, American Indian Studies Program, University of Wyoming (2014 – 2016)

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre, University of Waikato (2013 – 2014)

Publications

• Lessons from Aotearoa – New Zealand : Reconciliatory Justice and Federal Indian Law, The University of Waikato Law Review, (Vol. 22, 2014). 2015

• Book Review: Colonial Entanglements, AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Research Centre, The University of Auckland (Vol. 10, Issue 1, 2014) 2014

• Indigenous Governance Programs in America and New Zealand, The Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre, The University of Waikato (2014) 2014

• Co-Author. Ka Takahia ano o tatou Tapuae: Retracing Our Steps – A Māori Governance Overview and Literature Review, The Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre, The University of Waikato (2014) 2014

• Toward a Libertarian Framework for Indian Rights, The Journal Jurisprudence, (19 J. Juris 203, 2013) 2013

• Non-Peer Reviewed. “The Many Sins of Pope Francis’s Saints,” Indian Country Today (6 October 2015). 2015

• Non-Peer Reviewed. “Sharing Lessons: An American Perspective of Indigenous Governance,” New Zealand Lawyer Magazine, (3 May 2013, Issue 207) 2013

• Co-Author. Blood Quantum, Colonization, and the Struggle for Tribal Sovereignty, (In Progress). 2015

Research and Teaching Interests 

• Foundations in American Indian Studies
• American Indians in Contemporary Society
• Federal Indian Law
• Tribal Governments
• Constitutional Law

• Indigenous Peoples and the Environment
• Native American Natural Resources Law
• Tribal Courts and Tribal Law
• Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
• Comparative Indigenous Human Rights
• International Indigenous Human Rights
• Critical Race Theory
• Gaming & Gambling
• Globalization and Cultural Preservation
• Critical Race Theory, Libertarianism and the Problem of Indian Rights (Seminar Proposal)

Teaching Experience 
Federal Indian Law, College of Law, The University of Wyoming (Fall 2016)

Foundations in American Indian Studies, American Indian Studies Program, The University of Wyoming (Fall 2014, 2015, 2016)

Study Abroad: Experiences in New Zealand, American Indian Studies Program, The University of Wyoming (Summer 2015)

Tribal Governments, American Indian Studies Program, The University of Wyoming (Spring 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

Indigenous Peoples and the Environment, American Indian Studies Program, The University of Wyoming (Spring 2015, 2017)

Awards, Grants, and Honors 
RSO Advisor of the Year, University of Wyoming 2015

Post-Doc Fellow, American Indian Studies, University of Wyoming 2014 – Present

Post-Doc Research Fellow, Maori & Indigenous Governance Centre, University of Waikato Winter 2013 – Present

Faculty Member, Graduate Horizons, Harvard Law School Summer 2012

Member, Legal Skills Competition Committee, University of Arizona Law Fall 2011 – Spring 2012

Dean’s List, Spring Semester, University of Arizona Law Spring 2010

Recipient, Morris K. Udall Native American Congressional Internship Spring 2009

Conferences & Presentations 
Conference Presentation: Blood Quantum, Colonization, and the Struggle for Tribal Sovereignty, University of Wyoming, Department of English Interdisciplinary Conference on Memory and Identity (March 27-29, 2015)

Public Lecture: A New Zealand Export: Reconciliatory Justice and Federal Indian Law, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand September (2013)

Public Lecture: Remarks on the U.S. Treaty Settlement Process with American Indian Tribes, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand (2013)

Panelist: Repatriation and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Arizona State Museum, Tucson, AZ (2012 )

Public Lecture: Surviving and Thriving in Grad School, Graduate Horizons, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA (2012)

Public Lecture: A Libertarian Framework for Indian Rights, Thesis Defense, University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (2012)

Committees & Service 
University of Wyoming, Committee on Women and People of Color (2015 – Present)

University of Wyoming, Multicultural Student Leadership Initiative, Faculty Mentor (2015 – Present)

University of Wyoming, American Indian Studies, Advisory Committee (2014 – Present)

University of Wyoming, Wind River Indian Reservation Education Taskforce (2014 – Present)

University of Wyoming, American Indian Studies Alliance Student Organization, Faculty Advisor (2014 – Present)

Relevant Experience 
Program Manager, Indigenous Governance Program, Native Nations Institute, The University of Arizona (2016 – Present)

• Reviewed course content to meet program and institutional standards
• Oversee student progress through degree-granting educational programs
• Manage staff involved in oversight of students enrolled in non-credit online and distance-learning modules
• Schedule and manage January in Tucson event
• Aid in development and outreach on behalf of IGP
• Develop and implement marketing plan for IGP

Assistant Lecturer, The American Indian Studies Program, The University of Wyoming (2014 – 2016)

• Assumed a full course load and committee service obligations on behalf of the American Indian Studies Program
• Served as faculty advisor for the Program’s Recognized Student Organization (RSO), the American Indian Studies Alliance
• Participated in planning and coordination of Program events
• Assisted program faculty in revising American Indian Studies Program curriculum
• Facilitated invitations to Fullbright scholars from New Zealand
• Served as a reader for PhD dissertations related to the field of American Indian Studies

Associate Director, The High Plains American Indian Research Institute, The University of Wyoming (2014 – Present)

• Created strategic plans for the creation of the Institute
• Developed internal policies and procedures for Institute operations
• Created a development plan to make the Institute financially self-sustaining
• Engaged tribal stakeholders to earn reservation support of the Institute
• Engaged University stakeholders to help facilitate faculty and administrative support for the Institute
• Fielded press inquiries with a variety of media outlets both local and national
• Aided Director in the development of branding materials and publicity campaign for mainstream and social media
• Assisted UW scholars in the facilitation of reservation-based research projects

Post-Doctoral Fellow, The American Indian Studies Program, The University of Wyoming (2014 – Present)

• Assumed a full course load and committee service obligations on behalf of the American Indian Studies Program
• Served as faculty advisor for the Program’s Recognized Student Organization (RSO), the American Indian Studies Alliance
• Participated in planning and coordination of Program events
• Assisted program faculty in revising American Indian Studies Program curriculum
• Facilitated invitations to Fullbright scholars from New Zealand
• Served as a reader for PhD dissertations related to the field of American Indian Studies

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, The Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre, Te Piringa – Faculty of Law, The University of Waikato (2013 – 2014)

• Completed substantial research projects, including drafting and editing published research reports and articles
• Conducted scholarly research related to indigenous governance and dispute resolution best practices on behalf of the Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre (MIGC) Director and Manager
• Prepared research proposals and grant applications on behalf of the MIGC
• Promoted research relationships with other research and professional bodies, including foreign governments
• Drafted portions of official, MIGC research proposals to the New Zealand Government
• Engaged in strategic planning regarding both fundraising and research objectives on behalf of the MIGC

Research Assistant, Prof. Melissa Tatum (Fmr. Director), Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Program, James E. Rogers College of Law, The University of Arizona (July 2011 – May 2012)

• Prepared materials for presentation to the Native American Journalist Association Conference regarding journalistic integrity in Indian Country
• Drafted chapters of a forthcoming textbook on federal public lands, including an introductory overview of the Federal Lands Management System, and a chapter on the Chimney Rock litigation in the Six Rivers National Forest
• Aided IPLP staff in developing a fundraising strategy for future scholarships and awards
• Provided substantive content for the Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Program website

Legal Extern, United Nations Special Rapporteur, S. James Anaya (Jan. 2011 – May 2011)

• Drafted a tribal leader’s guide to the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on behalf of the U.N. Special Rapporteur, detailing the highlights of the Declaration for American Indian tribal leaders
• Provided substantive analysis of the Declaration’s key articles and their relevance to American Indian tribes, including the rights to self-determination, cultural, consultation, free prior and informed consent, lands territory and resources, and economic development
• Offered advice on the limitations of the Declaration, and provided suggestions for how to implement the Declaration’s norms within the United States

Legal Extern, Save the Peaks Coalition (Jan. 2011 – May 2011)

• Participated on an appellate litigation team with a pending matter before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals involving issues of the administrative law process for environmental, public interest lawsuits and the adequate consideration of claims made in Environmental Impact Statements
• Offered substantive feedback on legal arguments made in brief before the Ninth Circuit regarding the applicability of latches in the pending matter, and the integrity of scientific impact analyses under National Environmental Policy Act
• Fact-checked citations on behalf of lead attorney
• Tasked with technical formatting of brief’s final draft

Legal Extern, Tohono O’odham Tribal Economic Development Authority (Aug. 2010 – Dec. 2010)

• Explored the state tax implications of off-reservation enterprises acquired by the Tohono O’odham Tribal Economic Development Authority
• Examined Federal and State case law regarding the jurisdictional limits of state taxation authority over reservation lands, the Indian Sovereignty Doctrine, and the Arizona Enabling Act
• Researched state and federal corporate taxation statutes, and suggested alternative methods of doing business in the State of Arizona to promote the business interests of the tribal nation

Legal Extern, Tohono O’odham Tribal Economic Development Authority (Aug. 2009 – Dec. 2009)

• Drafted a solar energy development template for the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Economic Development Authority (EDA)
• Researched regulatory approaches to solar energy development on Indian tribal trust lands for CEO Travis Nabahe
• Explored projected costs for solar development including return on investment, competitiveness, and jurisdictional authority of tribal regulatory bodies
• Analyzed the availability of usufructuary tribal water rights for potential solar energy projects

Legal Intern, Office of Sen. John McCain (May 2009 – Aug. 2009)

• Drafted advisory memoranda for the Senator regarding the appointment of U.S. Supreme Court nominee (now Justice) Sonia Sotomayor
• Aided senior staff in preparing floor remarks for Senator McCain
• Conducted extensive background research on matters related to health care, homeland security, and education
• Provided legal analysis on issues related to Indian affairs, water law, and the judiciary
• Attended constituent meetings with senior staff on matters relevant to work assignments