Carmenlita Chief, MPH
Program Coordinator, Sr.
Research Focus: Indigenous health promotion and policy, community-based participatory research, health communication
Additional information
Background Accordion Closed
Carmenlita received her MPH with an emphasis in Health Behavior and Health Promotion in 2015 from the University of Arizona. She has worked on community-based participatory research (CBPR) projects on the Navajo Nation that have explored Navajo perceptions on topics such as smoke-free policies, early childhood education and development, and Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer. She has an interest in utilizing Indigenous research methods to better understand and promote culturally-framed wellness and social justice in Indigenous communities. As a citizen of the Navajo Nation, Carmenlita is dedicated to working with tribal and diverse populations to foster the development of healthy communities that support cultural identity, history, and knowledge.
Current projects Accordion Closed
Carmenlita is currently assisting the Gold King Mine Spill Diné Exposure Project team to investigate short-term exposure and risk perception of Navajo communities to the Gold King Mine toxic spill. She is also working on a SAMHSA-funded project to develop greater mental health awareness within the Havasupai tribal community, and assisting with efforts to disseminate information from a digital-based story project focused on Navajo traditional healers and use of traditional and commercial tobacco in ceremonial settings.