Undergraduate Scholars

---

School: University of Arizona 

Major: Food & Nutrition Systems and Food Studies 

Expected Graduation Term: Spring 2024

Tribal Affiliation: Diné (Navajo) 

Bio: Yá’át’ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é, shí éí Tommey Jodie yinishyé. Tótsohnii nishłį́, Tó'aheedlíinii bashishchiin, Áshįįhi dashicheii, Ma’ii Deeshgiizhnii éí dashinalí, Ákót’éego éí diné asdzáán nishłį́. I am from Teesto, Arizona but I grew up in Winslow, Arizona.

School: Northern Arizona University 

Major: Justice Studies 

Expected Graduation Term: Spring 2023

Tribal Affiliation: Diné (Navajo) 

Bio: Yá’át’ééh my name is Cheyanne Begay. My clans are Kin ł ichinii (The red house people) born for Táchiinii (Red Running into the Water people), my maternal grandparents are the Naaneeshtézhi Táchiinii (The Charcoal Streak People ) and my paternal grandparents are Bit'ahnii (Within His Cover). I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and raised in Window Rock, Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. 

School: Northern Arizona University 

Major: Public Health

Expected Graduation Term: Spring 2023

Tribal Affiliation: Diné (Navajo) 

Bio: Yá’át’ééh (Hello). Shí éí Brooke Betsuie yinishyé. Naasht'ézhi Tábąąhá nishłį́.  Kinłichii'nii bashishchiin. Kinyaa'áanii dashicheii. Tó'aheedlíinii dashinalí. Ákót’éego Diné asdzáán nishłį́.

I come from my maternal grandfather’s clan, the Towering House clan, and my paternal grandfather’s clan, Water Comes Together clan. I grew up in rural parts of the Navajo reservation called Tse’ Łigai Haasti’, meaning white rock that sticks out. My family and I called this White Mesa, our home.  

School: University of New Mexico

Major: Medical Laboratory Science

Expected Graduation Term: Fall 2024 

Tribal Affiliation: Diné (Navajo) 

Bio: Ya’a’teeh my name is Erin Johns. I am from the Navajo reservation. My clans are the tobacco people, born for the folded arms people, my maternal grandparents are the cliff-dwelling people, and my paternal grandparents are the red house clan. I am 22 years, and a junior at the University of New Mexico.

School: Mesa Community College

Major: Social Work 

Expected Graduation Term: Spring 2023

Tribal Affiliation: Hopi/Oglala Lakota 

Bio: Nu’ Amber Means yun pahan mahtsiwa. Nu’ Tawasimana yun Hopi mahtsiwa. Nu’

pakapwungwa. Nu’ walnoq sinom.

Eyá lé mitákuyepi, tóna yahípi kin iyúha chanté wastéya napé chiyúzape kstó.

Wasícuiya Amber Means emáciyapi nahán Lakhól micháze kin WoOhiye Yuha Gli Win

emáciyapi kstó. Hopi na Oglala Lakota emátanhan, na lehánl Mesa él wathi ye.

Hello all my relatives. My government name is Amber Means and my Hopi name is

“Sun Flower Girl”. I am a member of the Bamboo Clan from Walpi of the Hopi people.

My Lakota name is “She Returns Home Victorious” and I am a member of the Oglala

and Ihanktowan people.

School: Columbia University 

Major: Social Work 

Expected Graduation Term: Spring 2024

Tribal Affiliation: Tohono O'odham Nation/Diné (Navajo)

Bio: Hannah Throssell is an enrolled member of the Tohono O'odham Nation with strong ties to her Diné identity. As a bi-cultural Indigenous person, she spent time in both communities but primarily grew up in the Tohono O'odham Reservation. She obtained her BA in Psychology from the University of Arizona, where she pursued Public Health Research in collaboration with Southwest Tribes.

Outside of her professional life, she is an active participant in her O'odham Himdag (traditions) & dedicated mother.