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Meet the 2021-2022 AISES Student Reps!

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AISES would like to thank the 2020-2021 National and Regional Student Representatives for their hard work and dedication in serving as leaders and student ‘ambassadors’ of the organization to external organizations, and as the primary point of contact to AISES College Chapters within their region and as a resource to other students within the organization. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

 

Outgoing Regional Student Representatives (Summer 2020 - Summer 2021)

  • Region 1: Marshand Vasquez (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation), Salish Kootenai College
  • Region 2: Alex Armendariz (Mescalero Apache), California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
  • Region 3: Jasmine Charley (Navajo), Navajo Technical University
  • Region 4: Tsali Smith (Ojibwe, Oneida, and Cherokee), University of Oklahoma
  • Region 5: Danielle Arpan (Oglala Lakota Nation), South Dakota State University
  • Region 6: Abigail Reigner (Comanche), Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Region 7: Mikaela David-John (St. Regis Mohawk), University of Florida

Outgoing National Student Representatives (July 2019 – July 2021)

  • Sr. Canadian National Student Representative: Jacob Calderone (Fort Nelson First Nation), Queen's University

We would also like to introduce the incoming new Regional Student Representatives for the 2021-2022 that began their terms on July 1, 2021. Please feel free to reach out to your regional reps If you have questions, need assistance and/or guidance in chapter related issues or if you want to share best practices, ideas for fundraising or upcoming events. Your regional reps are here to support you and your chapter members. Also, our Senior and Junior National Students Reps are always ready and willing to provide any type of support to your chapters.

 

Incoming Regional Student Representatives (Summer 2021 - Summer 2022)

  • Region 1: (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) – University of Alaska -Anchorage
  • Region 2: (Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians -Kizh Nation) - UCLA
  • Region 3: (Navajo) – Arizona State University
  • Region 4: TBD
  • Region 5: (Three Affiliated Tribes/Mandan Hidatsa Arikara) – Sitting Bull College
  • Region 6: (Cherokee Nation) – Michigan State University
  • Region 7: (Caddo) – University of Florida

Incoming National Student Representatives (July 2021 – July 2023)

  • Jr. Canadian National Student Representative: (Algonquins of Ontario) – Queen’s University

Continuing National Student Representatives

  • Sr. Canadian National Student Representative (July 2020 – July 2022) (Bigstone Cree Nation) - McGill University
  • Sr. U.S. National Student Representative (November 2019 – November 2021) (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Jr. U.S. National Student Representative (November 2020 – November 2022) (Cherokee Nation) - UC Berkeley

 

Meet the 2021-2022 AISES Student Representatives

Senior U.S. National Rep

Adrian Riives (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

email:

 

My name is Adrian Riives and I am originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I am part Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) on my father’s side and have been blessed with a loving and supportive family as well as supportive mentorships throughout my life and beginning of my professional career in STEM. My proudest moment thus far in my life is completion of my bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in spring 2017 from San Jose State University (SJSU) in Silicon Valley, California. I have just finished the first year of my Ph.D. program in Chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and love my research into green chemistry as well as my many active organizations in which I am involved with, such as the Younger Chemists Committee (YCC). These organizations are of particular importance to me because organizations like the YCC, or in particular RISE (Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement) at SJSU, are the organizations in which I received the most support and confidence to succeed in school and eventually pursue graduate school. Without the support of programs like RISE, or even AISES, I don’t know if I would have a bachelor’s degree or currently be pursuing a doctorate in chemistry. I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to pursue a degree in STEM. The principle reason I ran to be the Regional Representative for Region 6 is because it is very important to me to provide similar support, particularly to Aboriginal, or First Nation, students from backgrounds similar to mine. If I can serve as a liaison, a mentor, or someone to promote higher education in STEM based on my own experiences, promote sovereignty, and promote the use of STEM to positively impact the environment and our planet, I feel my time as a Regional Representative will be well spent. I can’t wait to start my in my official role and have the opportunity to meet, connect, and work with everyone at AISES.

 

Junior U.S. National Rep

McKalee Steen (Cherokee Nation)
University of California Berkeley

email:

 

McKalee Steen, a member of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, grew up on a farm in the northeastern corner of the state. It was on this farm that her parents and grandparents instilled in her a deep respect and care for the environment. In May 2020, she graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Earth and Environmental Science and minors in English and Environmental Sustainability Studies. She is now a first year PhD student at the University of California Berkeley in the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management department. Her current research interests include land use and land use change, and the environmental and ecological impacts of Indigenous land management practices. Through all her work, she hopes to give back to Indian Country, and leave things better than she found them. McKalee is passionate about storytelling - old and new, poetic and scientific - and incorporates this into her work and hobbies.

 

Senior Canadian National Rep

Celeste Groux (Bigstone Cree Nation)
McGill University
Email:

 

Celeste is currently a student at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. She is working towards a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Honours Applied Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science. To her, the logic involved in this mathematics is fascinating, and she appreciates its ability to explain and predict phenomena with simplicity, elegance, and precision. Her interest in computer science has also grown since taking an initial course on the subject in college. As she progresses in her studies, she is looking forward to learning more about math and computer science and how they can be applied to improve our understanding of processes and communities around us.

 

Celeste has lived on the south shore of Montreal Quebec for all her life. She has loved living close to such a dynamic city and in such a diverse area. Her large extended family has been a continuous support for her through the many activities and projects she has pursued. During the last few years, she has participated in multiple hackathons, given a talk about random number generators at Dawson College’s ScienceFest 2019, and published an essay in her college’s English journal. She also has participated in multiple mathematics competitions, placing in the top 25% three times and in the top 40 for the Association des Mathématiques du Quebec Competition. Outside of school, Celeste has been student council secretary for the Montreal LDS Institute of Religion since winter 2019, where she has helped to organize multiple events for young adults in her church. In the fall of 2019, she joined the student chapter of AISES at McGill University. She is grateful for the community of talented and driven indigenous students and professionals who she has been able to meet at McGill and through AISES.

 

Junior Canadian National Rep

Mindy Dallard (Algonquins of Ontario)
Queen’s University

Email:

 

Mindy Dallard was elected Canadian National Junior Student representative for AISES in June 2021. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Health Sciences degree at Queen’s University. In addition to her degree, she plans on earning three concurrent certificates in French Languages for Professionals, Indigenous Languages and Cultures, and Intercultural Awareness. Mindy has also competed in WWF Design for Change challenge to design a sustainability project. She is also working towards her Living Planet Leadership certification through WWF. In her spare time, Mindy enjoys exploring the outdoors and capitalizing on new experiences.

 

“Say ‘YES’ to new experiences, push the limits of your comfort zone” – Mindy

 

Region 1 Student Rep

Emily Maxwell (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)
University of Alaska

Email:

Facebook:

Twitter: @AISES_Region_01

Instagram: aises_region_01

 

My name is Emily Maxwell and I am a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I was born and raised in Palmer, Alaska and live here currently. I graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Geography and am a graduate student in the University of Alaska Master of Public Health program. After graduation, I intend on pursuing a doctorate degree to focus my studies on infectious disease. I enjoy working as a Program Coordinator at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Epidemiology Center. I spend my free time with my two cats and two dogs, hiking around the Matanuska Valley.

 

Region 2 Student Rep

Desirae Barragan (San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians of Southern California- Kizh Nation)
University of California Los Angeles

Email:

Facebook:

Twitter: @AISES_Region_02

Instagram: AisesRegion2

 

Miyiiha (Hello) my name is Desirae Barragan and I am an enrolled member of the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians of Southern California- Kizh Nation. I am a third year at the University of California Los Angeles double majoring in American Indian Studies and Human Biology and Society with a concentration in Medicine and Public Health. I also serve as the current External Vice President of the UCLA AISES Chapter.

 

Region 3 Student Rep

Alexis Tiara Jishie (Navajo)
Arizona State University

Email:

Facebook:

Twitter: @AISES_Region_03

Instagram: aises_region3

 

My name is Alexis Tiara Jishie, I am from Steamboat, Arizona located on the Navajo Reservation but residing in Flagstaff. I am part of the Navajo tribe, my Diné kinship is Naakai dine’é, Tó’aheedlíinii, Kisaani, and Tótsohnii. I am currently a student at Arizona State University, working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Justice Studies. I hope to continue my journey as a Diné student and use my knowledge and skills to continue finding and developing new resources for Indigenous students. I have been working at Coconino Community College as a Student Ambassador since July 2020, I am furthering my passion for higher education and outreach with AISES as a Region 3 Student Representative.

 

Region 5 Student Rep

Kimberlee Blevins (Three Affiliated Tribes/Mandan Hidatsa Arikara)
Sitting Bull College

Email:

Facebook:

Twitter: @AISES_Region_05

Instagram: aisesregion5

 

I am an enrolled member of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation from the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation; I was born into the Ciicga Clan. My traditional name is Sunlight Woman, given to me by my grandmother, Rose Crow Flies High. I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Environmental Science at Sitting Bull College in North Dakota. My academic path includes a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and two associate degrees in Pre-Engineering and Native American Leadership from United Tribes Technical College. My career goal is to focus on tribal land restoration and environmental policy. My passion is working on STEM outreach and inspiring tribal youth.

 

Region 6 Student Rep

Avery Tilley (Cherokee Nation)
Michigan State University

Email:

Facebook:

Twitter: @AISES_Region_06

Instagram: aises.region6

 

Avery (Cherokee) is an undergraduate student pursuing dual degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Molecular Genetics and Genomics at Michigan State University. After graduating from MSU in 2023, Avery will pursue a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, focusing on wildlife disease and conservation medicine with the eventual goal of working with various tribal agencies to improve wildlife health across indigenous lands. In addition, Avery enjoys hiking, cooking, running, and photography.

 

Region 7 Student Rep

Sidney Fire (Caddo)
University of Florida

Email:

Facebook:

Twitter: @AISES_Region_07

 

I'm Sidney Fire, a sophomore at the University of Florida on the pre-med track and majoring in music composition. I'm also a member of the Caddo tribe, and in the future I hope to graduate medical school and complete my residency in psychiatry so that I can use my knowledge to help provide mental health counseling and resources to indigenous people living on reservations throughout the country.

 

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