Adrian Lerma

Vice-President

Adrian Lerma is Diné, born and raised on the Navajo Nation in the small community of Tuba City, Arizona. Her clans are: Naakai Dine’é - Naash't'éezhí Tábaahá - Tł'izhíłání – Táchiinii. She holds a Master of Organizational Leadership degree from Northern Arizona University. The past 13 years of her professional career has been dedicated to empowering people, transforming communities, and practically applying indigenous knowledge. Her inspiration is to walk in the steps of Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé, trust the plan of Na'ashjé'íí Asdzáá, and live her grandparent's values: Sa’ah Naaghai Bik’eh Hozhoon.

brittany bitsilly

Secretary

Yá’át’ééh, Brittany Bitsilly yinishyé. Kinyaa'áanii nishłį́ dóó Ta’Nees'zahnii báshíshchíín. Tábaahá dashicheii dóó Kin Łichíi’nii dashinalí. Ákót’éego diné asdzáání nishłį́. Dibé Nitsaají Kinłánígi kééhasht’į́. Tó Niłtsʼílí déé’ naashá. Fort Lewis Collegedi ííníshta’.

Hello, my name is Brittany Bitsilly. I am from the Towering House clan born for the Tangle clan. My maternal grandfather is from the Water’s Edge clan and my paternal grandfather is from the Red House clan. In this way, I am a Navajo woman. I reside in Durango, CO. I’m from Crystal, NM. I attend Fort Lewis College.

I am currently double majoring in Native American and Indigenous studies and political science with a minor in gender and sexuality studies. My studies focus on the reintroduction of traditional Diné epistemologies into tribal government and inclusion of gender relations in the curriculum of Navajo. I am the president of the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College and an All Our Kin Collective Fellow. I serve as the board secretary of the Diné Studies Association where I hope to contribute my networking skills to garner a community of young individuals dedicated to embracing their Diné identity. I am an involved community member and am working to expand the opportunities for the Indigenous population in Southwestern Colorado, specifically in the Durango area. My hobbies include fly fishing, hiking and attending campus events. 

Isabella Shey Robbins

Treasurer

Isabella Shey Robbins is Sǫʼ Diné’e, born for Haashk'aan Hadzohí, and is a scholar, curator, sometimes tribal employee from Cameron, AZ. She is currently a Ph.D. student in the History of Art Department at Yale University. At Yale, Isabella studies global contemporary Indigenous art, with a specific focus on the American Southwest, Northern Canada, and Australia. She is especially interested in art created and displayed in rural areas and in transit, (anti-)surveillance, materiality, and the extensions, intersections and overlappings of Blackness, Diaspora and Indigeneity. She has a B.A. in Art History from Stanford University and an M.A. in Public Humanities from Brown University. At Brown, she was a Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative fellow and curated Sacred is Sacred: the Art of Protecting Bears Ears at the Haffenreffer Museum. She also serves on the board of the Chapter House - L.A., a Native arts space. 

David delmar

Board Director

Yá’át’ééh. David Delmar is Kin Łichíi’nii and born for Tó Dích’íi’nii. His maternal grandfathers are Naneesht’ézhí Tóbąąhí and paternal grandfathers are Táchii’nii. He is originally from Ak’ih Dah Nást’ání in the northwestern part of the Diné Nation in northern Arizona.

Upon taking on a doctoral study, Mr. Delmar took a hiatus from writing Nihiinéé’, a four-page monthly insert in the Navajo Times written wholly in the Navajo Language. It included creative writings, cultural pieces, and a children’s page, all drawn from family experiences and stories. He is retired but, as a consultant, translates, transcribes, records, and teaches the Diné Language for various entities. His consulting work and passion for the Diné Language led him to pursue a doctorate to give academic credence to that work. He considers it a contribution to be left behind for his progeny and the Diné (ANTI-Records, 2016). He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Diné Studies Conference, Inc., contributing his expertise to embrace and uphold the Diné language, a self-taught language proficiency which he obtained during an era when students were chastened for speaking their language.

Mr. Delmar received a BA in Biblical Studies from Indian Bible College in Flagstaff, Arizona, a BSBA in General Management from Northern Arizona University, a MS in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University, and is pursuing a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. His dissertation topic will study how a well-designed Diné Language curriculum pathway for language learners in K-12 schools on the Diné Nation will contribute to its language preservation and revitalization. The qualitative research will seek to understand strategies that Navajo leaders and educators can use to reverse Diné Language loss.

Mr. Delmar has five grown children, two grandchildren in college, and a nearly two-year-old grandson. He loves playing golf, guitar, and rezball.

Rachael Nez

Board Director

Rachael Nez is a documentary filmmaker, academic, and teacher who resides in Northern California. Born and raised on the Navajo Reservation, maintaining heritage languages and working with Native communities are her core passions. Her research, Performative Models for Heritage Language Learning: Theater, Song and Tribal Radio, looks at how Indigenous language workers use media, storytelling, and theater to sustain heritage languages. A UC Davis Provost Dissertation Fellow, Rachael's work centers on utilizing media tools for Native languages, cultural sharing, and language preservation.

A Cobell scholar, Rachael has served as an associate professor at the Institute of American Indian Arts, teaching courses in video production, cinema history, and storytelling. She strongly believes in the revitalization of Indigenous language and supports those efforts through her knowledge of multi-media technology. Rachael holds a Ph.D. in Native American Studies from the University of California, Davis, with a Designated Emphasis in Performance and Practice.

Michael lerma

Board Director

Michael Lerma, Ph.D. (P’urhépecha) was born and raised on the Central Coast of California. His recent research explores the efficacy of traditional Diné institutions of governance. Lerma received a Bachelor of Arts in History from UCLA, a Master of Arts in Political Science and a Doctorate in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona. His background in American Indian Studies and International Relations has benefited his work within academic institutions, where his research advocates for future Native Nation building via consolidation of Indigenous interests and the expansion of Native Nation control of norms within the international political economy. He is author of ‘Indigenous Sovereignty in the 21st Century: Knowledge for the Indigenous Spring’ and ‘Guided by the Mountains: Navajo Political Philosophy and Governance’.

kevin patterson

Board director

Kevin Patterson is ‘Áshįįhi, born for Tábaahá, and is a scientist and environmental justice scholar from Farmington, NM. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Environmental Health Sciences department at Columbia University. Kevin’s research and community work seeks to address inequities in water quality and access. He is interested in understanding the relationship between heavy metal exposures through drinking water, and cardiometabolic and nephropathic outcomes. He is particularly interested in focusing his work on communities that are disproportionately exposed to these contaminants with the goal of informing dose-response and risk assessment regulatory action. He is a senior Agents of Change in Environmental Justice Fellow and strongly believes in solutions that center community perspectives and needs. He holds a B.A. in Native American Studies from Dartmouth College and an M.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences with a focus in Molecular Epidemiology from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Tylor Billey

Board director

Taylor is Diné, from Kirtland, NM. She is a Research Assistant with the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, where she serves the community of Shiprock, NM and other surrounding communities on the Navajo Nation. Her work focuses primarily on maternal and child health. She is passionate about pursuing health equity for Indigenous Peoples and increasing Indigenous representation in public health research.⁠⠀