Congratulations to CHER/SHERC spring 2022 graduates!

Skyler James Bordeaux

Tribal Affiliation: Sicangu Lakota

Hometown: White River, South Dakota

Program of study: Masters of Public Health, Health Promotion–Indigenous Health Track

What do you hope to do in the future through your program? I hope to be an advocate/ for Native health issues using my diverse background of experiences and education. After graduation I will be continuing with the Center of Health Equity Research to advance my knowledge of research in partnership with Native communities across the US.

Would like to thank my longtime mentor, Dr. Naomi Lee in the Chemistry Department, for guiding and assisting with my GRP project and beyond. I would also like to thank Dr. Julie Baldwin and CHER for the mentorship in my last semester of my MPH. I will be joining Dr. Baldwin’s team after a short break after graduation.

Chassity Begay

Hometown: Farmington, New Mexico

Program of study: Master of Public Health, Health Promotion–Indigenous Health Track

What do you hope to do in the future through your program? I hope to continue working with Indigenous communities, especially in terms of research.

I would like to thank my family and friends for their unconditional support during this program. I would like to thank my mentors Dr. Priscilla Sanderson and Dr. Nicolette Teufel-Shone for the guidance and amazing research opportunities they’ve given me. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my late grandfather who always expressed how proud he was of me and my academic achievements.

Amy Gelatt

Hometown: Grand Junction, Colorado

Program of study: Master of Public Health, Health Promotion

What do you hope to do in the future through your program? I hope to foster community well-being by promoting and protecting environmental health. I also hope to improve and reinforce the understanding of and appreciation for the influence environment (built, natural, and social) has on health. I have learned that policy drives change, but meaningful action influences policy.

I would like to thank my grandparents for all of their support.

Shawndeena George

Yá’á’tééh! My name is Shawndeena George. I am of the Tangle People Clan, born for the Towering House Clan, my maternal grandfather is of the Mexican People Clan, and my paternal grandfather is of the Rock Gap People Clan. This is how I identify myself as a Navajo woman. I was born and raised in Tuba City, Arizona, but currently reside in Flagstaff, Arizona, where I am graduating with a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion with an emphasis in Indigneous Health.

This program has given me hands-on experience in working with Indigenous communities. It only adds to my interest of returning home in hopes of bringing awareness to the health inequities in underserved populations. My time as a graduate assistant with Navajo NARCH has taught me so much in creating and establishing partnerships on Navajo Nation and providing resources and support for Indigenous students in their journeys to higher education.

I would like to thank my mom, my aunt, and my siblings for being there every step of the way as they offer their love, support, and guidance. Thank you to my mentor Heather Dreifuss for encouraging me to step into leadership roles and taking advantage of opportunities that come my way. To my MPH peers who were always there to hear me vent and become a support system I didn’t know I needed at the time. Lastly, thank you to the CHER and Navajo NARCH team for allowing me to listen and learn from you all and giving me the opportunity to grow as an individual, personally and professionally.

DeeDee James

Hometown: Monument Valley, Utah

Program of study: Master of Public Health, Health Promotion–Indigenous Health Track

What do you hope to do in the future through your program? I hope to return to the Navajo Nation and help those that were impacted by the abandoned uranium mines. In the future, I wish to further my education and continue to help indigenous communities.

Tressica Johnson

Hometown: Tuba City, AZ

Program of study: Master of Public Health, Health Promotion–Indigenous Health Track

What do you hope to do in the future through your program? Through this program, I hope to serve Indigenous people and underrepresented communities as an Indigenous Public Health leader. I would like to thank and acknowledge my family, mentors, and instructors for their upmost support.

Ashley Lazaro

Hometown: San Diego, California, but currently reside in Phoenix, Arizona

Program of study: Master of Public Health, Health Promotion–Indigenous Health

What do you hope to do in the future through your program? I hope to continue working with underrepresented populations. I would like to thank my mentor, Dr. [Nicolette] Teufel-Shone, for her guidance and support these past two years throughout this program. I would also like to thank everyone at CHER for their support! I would like to acknowledge my family and friends for the unconditional support throughout this program.

Stacey Litson

Yá’át’ééh shí éí Stacey Litson yinishyé. Tódích’íí’nii nishłį Tábaahá báshischíín Áshiihíí dashicheii Kinyaa’áanii dashinalí. Hello, my name is Stacey Litson. I am from Tsaile, Arizona, but have attended school in Flagstaff, Arizona, from undergrad to graduate school. I will graduate from NAU with my Master’s of Public Health with an emphasis in Indigenous Health.

After graduation I will continue working with CHER on Dr. Regina Eddie’s School Wellness Practice & Policy project and the Navajo Maternal and Child Health Project with Diné College. In the future I hope to go back to the Navajo Nation to implement sexual assault facilities, resources, and support services to those impacted by this trauma. I would like to thank Dr. Regina Eddie, Dr. Samantha Sabo, Kelly McCue, Dr. Brettania O’Connor, Dr. Ricky Camplain for their continued support and words of encouragement! I will be forever grateful to the CHER community. Lastly, I would like to thank my MPH colleagues for their resiliency and support through this program and my family/friends who support my education and goals. I would not be where I am in life without you all. Ahéhee’!

Bethany Robinson

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Program of study: Honors College, biology major, chemistry and psychology minors

What do you hope to do in the future through your program? In the fall of 2022, I will be attending the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine at Midwestern University. I plan to continue conducting research at the graduate level and in my future career. I would like to thank Dr. Heather Williamson, Dr. Sara Shuman, and doctoral candidate Travis A. Pinn for their continuous support. A special thanks to Dr. Ricky Camplain, for all of her mentorship.

Alexandra Elvira Samarron Longorio

Hometown: born in Obregón, Sonora, Mexico and second homeland is Tucson, Arizona

Program of study: Master of Public Health, Health Program

What do you hope to do in the future through your program? Public health is an extensive field of opportunities, and at the moment I am not fully sure what I want to do next. However, I think I would like to explore opportunities to develop nutrition and dietetics programming, interventions and community projects that work closely with immigrant, queer and BIPOC communities specifically. I am interested to work around issues of immigrant health, workers’ rights, reproductive justice, gender violence,  food and nutrition justice. I want to continue working on the development of health communication strategies, advocacy campaigns as well as policy design and implementation that support the well-being of immigrants, women, queer and trans people of color. What I have learned is not to take anything serious not even school (life is a long lasting satire; might as well have fun with it and laugh at it), like the very wise Mexican singer, Juan Gabriel, said, “Pero que necesidad, para que tanto problema” (“what’s the need to worry, what’s all the concern for?” – Very rough translation).

I am deeply thankful for my mom, Isabel Longorio Toloza, the woman who left everything to come to a new country and build a new future for her and her daughter – I am grateful and proud to be a manifestation of our future. I am deeply thankful for the patience, active listening, and support of my husband and life-partner, Justin Strong. Thank you for being so present all the time, every time. I am grateful for my friend and roommate, Cristian Tapia for keeping the chisme (gossip) and laughs alive when I needed it, especially after stressful days of school and work. I want to thank Dr. Samantha Sabo for providing me with mentorship, and always giving me all the positivity I needed to get me through my master’s program. I also want to thank Dr. Linnea Evans for her mentoring and support in finalizing the analysis and completion of my graduate project.

I want to thank my co-workers at CHER (shout outs to Carmenlita Chief, Dulce Jiménez, Lisa Dahm, and Alexandra Olin) for letting me vent during the most stressful weeks of school and being flexible with me. I’m also so very thankful to have had Randall, my white tiny chihuahua, for giving me calm and a smile when I didn’t feel like smiling.

Janet Yellowhair

Yá’át’ééh shí éí Janet Yellowhair yinishyé.  Bit’ahnii nishłí. Tł’ízí Łání Báshíshchíín. Tábąąhá dashicheii. Hashk’ąąn Hadzohí dashinalí. Ákót’éego Diné asdzáání nishłí. Hello, my name is Janet Yellowhair. I was born and raised in Kayenta, Arizona. I have been happily married to my husband, Derik, for 15 years, and we have three beautiful boys: Ethan, Trevor, and Hunter. In my spare time, I enjoy sewing, quilting, and reading. I have lived in Flagstaff for the past 10 years and I am so thankful for my time at NAU.

I graduated in May 2019 with my Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree from NAU. I will graduate with my Master of Public Health-Indigenous Health degree in May 2022 from NAU. I hope to always contribute to the growth and development of Indigenous Healthcare systems.

I would like to thank everyone at the CHER office for their support and words of encouragement! I have always admired the work that CHER does and look forward to being a part of the CHER team after graduation.