National: Navajo Nation, University of Arizona
Yá’át’ééh. Deandra Jones (she/her) identifies as Kinłichíí’nii, born for Ashįįhí (she is of the red house people and born for the salt people). Deandra is from Round Rock, AZ, located on the Navajo Nation. As a first-generation college student and currently a third-year Ph.D. student at the University of Arizona in Wildlife Conservation and Management, her research focuses on three primary objectives: estimating the black bear population within the Navajo Nation, mitigating increasing human-bear conflicts, and understanding Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) about black bears in Navajo culture. By interweaving TEK with scientific methodologies, her work will provide a comprehensive understanding of the species and its relationship with the local community. Deandra’s research will also provide valuable data to inform local wildlife management and community safety efforts. She is also committed to increasing access to STEM fields for Indigenous students and actively supports efforts to provide mentorship and resources for Native students in underserved areas.
