Team

Ashleigh is dedicated to Native nation rebuilding, a passion sparked during her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota–Morris. There, she earned degrees in American Indian Studies, Anthropology, English, and Multicultural Studies, deepening her knowledge of Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary issues. She was actively involved on campus, serving in leadership roles with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and Circle of Nations Indigenous Association, competing on the cross-country and track teams, and volunteering at the local library.

Ashleigh continued her academic journey at the University of Arizona, earning a master’s degree in Anthropology with a focus on Indigenous archaeology. In graduate school, she strengthened her collaborative research skills by working with Native nations in Montana and Arizona, conducting archaeological fieldwork and oral history interviews. She also gained valuable experience teaching Anthropology and American Indian Studies courses at the undergraduate level.

Before joining Native Governance Center, Ashleigh served as Director of Tribal Collaboration at an archaeology nonprofit in Tucson, where she worked closely with Native nations to protect cultural sites and heritage. Now part of the Tribal Governance Support team at Native Governance Center, she supports Native nations in their sovereignty efforts through technical assistance, leadership development facilitation, and customized Tribal services.

Ashleigh currently lives on Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui land (Tucson, Arizona). In her free time, she enjoys trail running, mountain biking, and rock climbing with her dog, friends, and partner. She is guided by her love for family, the natural world, and Anishinaabe teachings, striving always to be a good relative to all.

3 Things to Know About Me

• One of my proudest professional accomplishments was being interviewed on NPR for Save Indigenous History: An Activity Book for Children, a book my team created to teach kids about respecting archaeological sites.
• I moonlight as a freelance photographer, content creator, and writer with a focus on adventure sports. If it involves nature, creativity, and adrenaline, sign me up
• My most memorable run was completing rim-to-rim-to-rim of the Grand Canyon (48.5 miles) in under 16 hours—because, apparently, crossing one of the largest canyons in the world once just wasn’t enough.

Contact Me For

• Coordination and inquiries for Tribal Governance Support programs, including Indigenous Leaders in Governance, Tribal Civics, and Customized Tribal Services.