Dr. Stephanie A. Fryberg, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington State, is the Director of The Research for Indigenous Social Action and Equity. Dr. Fryberg is also a Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan.  As a social and cultural psychologist, her research focuses on how social representations of race, culture, and social class influence the development of self, psychological well-being, physical health, and educational attainment.  In addition to publishing articles in leading academic journals, Dr. Fryberg provided testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, received the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Early Career Award, and was inducted into Stanford University’s Multicultural Alumni Hall of Fame.

Marco Kamimura (he/they) is Uchinanchu-Mexican. He grew up in Michigan and Southern California while his parents pursued their paths in Higher Ed. He left Michigan to study Aquatic Ecology, Cultural Anthropology, and Sociology at Grinnell College in Iowa. He takes great pride in his work as an educator and water protector in Michigan and Iowa. His work at RISE aims to amplify Indigenous voices in a good way and sustain intersectional conversations toward future research in the RISE space and the U-M community at large. In doing so, he works to honor his ancestors and the future mirukuyuu (peaceful generation, or youth).

Kelly House is currently a Research Coordinator for the RISE Center at the University of Michigan. She is a member of the Oneida Nation from Wisconsin. She earned her B.S in Psychology, with an emphasis in Mental Health, and First Nations Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She dedicated her undergraduate career to improving Native American students’ experiences on the UWGB campus through several research and social justice projects. Her research interests broadly involve the effects of prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes on underrepresented communities, specifically surrounding and within Native American communities. In her free time, she enjoys bullet journaling and spending time with her family and friends.

Adam Farero is a member of the Bay Mills Indian Community, which is part of the Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians of Michigan. He earned his PhD at Michigan State University where he studied Human Development and Family Studies, with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist. His research has focused on resilience and posttraumatic growth in individuals and families, as well as quantitative methods. He is currently an assistant research scientist at the RISE Center, where he is excited to be engaged in research that seeks to empower Native voices, bring visibility to the Native experience, combat systemic racism and stereotypes, and celebrate Native culture.

Dr. Arianne E. Eason is an Assistant Professor in the Social/Personality and Developmental areas of UC Berkeley’s Department of Psychology. She received her B.S. in psychology from Yale University in 2012 and her Ph.D. from the University of Washington in. Broadly speaking, her research sits at the intersection of social, developmental, and cultural psychology. Specifically, her research examines how features of our social and cultural contexts (e.g., racial segregation, wealth inequality, the lack of contemporary Native representations) influence individuals’ thoughts and feelings about intergroup relations, and how these psychological outcomes, in turn, reify existing inequities. Ultimately, by shedding light on the ways in which our social and cultural contexts work in tandem with what exists in people’s minds (i.e., thoughts, feelings, and actions), we can better work towards creating a more equitable nation. Her research endeavors have been supported by the Ford Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation.  

Nikki’s Indian name is khwhele’ which means Meadow Lark. She is a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and is also Kalispel, Yakama, Nisqually, Cowlitz, Squaxin Island and Taino. She is a direct descendant of Chief Spokane, Chief Ignace, Chief Kamayakin and Chief Leschi. With a true passion to support Native youth and youth-led programming, Nikki serves as the Executive Director at the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute. As Executive Director, Nikki works closely with the Board of Advisors and Youth Advisory Board, manages staff, and sets the vision, strategy, and priorities for the Center. Nikki oversees finances, manages development of communications, advocacy, programs and is the lead in resource development, partnership development and collaborative strategies.

Nikki sits on the Partnership with Native Americans Board of Directors, an Advisor for Doris Duke Charitable Fund’s Indigenous Peoples Portfolio, Advisor for REI Co-Op Action Fund, a Commissioner for the Aspen Institute’s K-12 Climate Action,  Artist Ambassador for NYCLU,  is a proud committee member for the Miss Indian World Pageant for the Gathering of Nations Pow-wow and promotes other organizations in advisory capacities. Nikki has worked on behalf of her people her whole life. Her biggest inspiration comes from her daughter, Aplnmarimn’tsu’tn (Carries the Medicine).

Adrienne Keene is a Citizen of the Cherokee Nation and an Assistant Professor of American Studies and Ethnic Studies at Brown University. Her research areas include college access, transition, and persistence for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Students, including the role of pre-college access programs in student success and Indigenous college student activism. Additionally, she examines representations of Native peoples in popular culture, Native cultural appropriation in fashion and design, and the ways that Indigenous peoples are using the internet, social media, and new media to challenge misrepresentations and create new and innovative spaces for art and activism.

She is the longtime author of Native Appropriations, a blog examining cultural appropriation and contemporary Indigenous topics, as well as the co-creator and co-host of the All My Relations Podcast, which highlights Indigenous issues through a lens of relationality. Her most recent book, Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from past and Present, is an accessible, illustrated text of short biographies, highlighting the contributions of 50 Indigenous community members from history and today.

She earned her BA from Stanford University in Native American Studies and Cultural Anthropology, and her doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, in Culture, Communities, and Education.

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