President
Lloyd Lee, PhD
Home: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Lloyd L. Lee is Kinyaa'aanii (Towering House) clan, born for the Tl'aaschii (Red Bottom) clan. His maternal grandfather clan is Ashiihi (Salt) and his paternal grandfather clan is Tabaaha (Water's Edge). He went to Dartmouth College and graduated in 1994 with B.A. in History. He then went onto Stanford University where he received his M.A. in Education in 1995. After teaching at Wingate High School for four years, he returned to school at the University of New Mexico and earned his PhD in American Studies in 2004. For the past two years, he has been a visiting assistant professor in the Native American Studies department at the University of New Mexico. His research interests include Indigenous and Navajo identity, Indigenous and Navajo masculinities, Navajo transformative research, Indigenous leadership development, and Indigenous community building. His recent publications include: "Reclaiming Indigenous Intellectual, Political, and Geographic Space: A Path for Navajo Nationhood" in American Indian Quarterly 32, No. 1 (Winter 2008), "The Future of Navajo Nationalism" in Wicazo Sa Review 22, No. 1 (Spring 2007), and "Navajo Cultural Identity: What can the Navajo Nation bring to the Native American Identity discussion table?" in Wicazo Sa Review 21, No. 2 (Fall 2006).
Vice President
Tiffany Lee, PhD
Home: Tonits'ili (Crystal), Navajo Nation, New Mexico
Tiffany Lee is Dibe Lizhini (Blacksheep), born for Naalani (Lakota). Her family comes from Crystal, NM. She is an Assistant Professor in Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where she teaches courses related to education and language revitalization. She holds a BA in Psychology from Pomona College, an MA in Sociology, and a PhD in Sociology of Education from Stanford University. She's a mother, former high school teacher and volleyball coach at schools on the Navajo Nation. Her research relates to understanding and promoting culturally responsive and community-based education, particularly as it relates to Native language revitalization among Native youth.
Secretary
Davina Two-Bears, MA
Home: Tsidi to'ii (Birdsprings), Navajo Nation, Arizona
Davina R. Two Bears is Bitter Water Clan, Todich'ii'nii, and born for Red Streak Running into the Water Clan, Tachi'inii. She is a single mother of three children. Davina was raised in Flagstaff and Winslow, as well as in Tuba City, Birdsprings, and Leupp. She received her undergraduate education at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, where she graduated with a degree in anthropology. In 2001, Davina earned her Master of Arts degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from Northern Arizona University. She then became the Program Manager of the Navajo Nation Archaeology Department-NAU Branch Office, where she currently manages a staff of archaeologists and Navajo students. NNAD-NAU offers archaeological services to the Navajo Nation, while training Navajo students enrolled at NAU in archeological methods, while they obtain their degrees in anthropology or archaeology.
Treasurer
Jennifer Nez Denetdale, PhD
Home: Tohaach'i (Tohatchi), Navajo Nation, New Mexico
Jennifer Nez Denetdale also comes from the academic field. She is an Associate Professor of history at Northern Arizona University and specializes in Native American and Navajo history. She has served two terms on the Navajo Studies Conference Board. She is the author of RECLAIMING DINE' HISTORY-The Legacies of Navajo Chief Manuelito and Juanita, University of Arizona Press.
Board Member
Tim Begaye, PhD
Home: Tse' Dildooh'ii' (Hardrock), Navajo Nation, Arizona
Tim Begaye comes from the academic field. He holds a PhD from Harvard University. He is an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University in the College of Education in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies division. He currently teaches course on education leadership, policy, and research methods.
Board Member
Lester Kevin Tsosie, MPA, MBA
Home: Liilgai Bito' (Whitehorse Lake), Navajo Nation, New Mexico
Lester Tsosie is To'ahani, born for Naneesht'ezhi. His maternal grandfathers are Ashiihi and paternal grandfathers are Naakai Dine'e. Lester comes from the business and public policy fields. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering, as well as an MBA from University of Arizona. He also has an MPA from Harvard University. He has been working with native organizations for the past decade in areas of government, organizational development, and public policy. Currently, he's an Economic Development Planner for a tribe in Arizona.
Board Member
Wesley Thomas, PhD
Home: Tseehali (Tsaile), Navajo Nation, Arizona
Dr. Thomas is Hashtl'ishnii, born for Tabaaha. His maternal grandfathers are Kinyaa'anii and paternal grandfathers are Tsin Naajinii. He is from Bee ak'idhooteel (Mariano Lake, NM). In 1976, he graduated from Navajo Community College at Tsaile, AZ with his Associate of Arts degree. From 1990 to 1999, he was an undergraduate (BA, 1994) and graduate (MA, 1996 and PhD, 1999) student at University of Washington-Seattle. He was then at Idaho State University- Pocatello from Fall 1999 to Spring 2001. After this, he was an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Anthropology, Gender Studies and International Studies, at Indiana University-Bloomington for six years. Currently, he is the Academic Dean for the Divisions of Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences at Dine' College, Tsaile, AZ.
Board Member
Leonard Perry, MA
Home: T'iists'oozi Nideeshgizh (Crownpoint), Navajo Nation, New Mexico
Leonard Perry is Kinyaa'anni (Towering House) and born for To'aheedliinii (Water Flows Together). His maternal grandfathers are Todich'ii'nii (Bitter Water) and paternal grandfathers are Bit'ahnii (Within the Cover). He works in the sustainable communities field. He holds a Masters Degree in Sustainable Communities from Northern Arizona University. Currently, he is a doctoral student in Educational Thought and Socio-Cultural Studies at the University of New Mexico. He has a background in anthropology, Southwest History, Navajo History and Philosophy, Western Philosophy, Navajo Nation Polity, and Southwest Comparative Religions. He is also President of Crownpoint Historical and Cultural Heritage Council, a non-profit organization. He edits the monthly "Crownpoint Baahane" newsletter.
Board Member
Jolene Manus
Home: Navajo Nation, New Mexico
Jolene Manus is a new Board Member.
