Dr. Karletta Chief

As an Extension Specialist, Dr. Chief (Diné),works to bring relevant water science to Native American communities in a culturally sensitive manner. She is the Director of the University of Arizona Indigenous Resilience Center (“IRes”), which aims to facilitate efforts of UArizona climate/environment researchers, faculty, staff, and students working with Native Nations to build resiliency to climate impacts and environmental challenges. Two of her primary tribal projects are The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Climate Adaptation and Traditional Knowledge Project and Gold King Mine Spill Diné Exposure Project (which was co-funded by the Haury Program). In partnership with Diné College, Dr. Chief leads the NSF Indigenous Food, Energy, and Water Security and Sovereignty Program and  trains numerous graduate students. Indige-FEWSS’s vision is to develop a diverse workforce with intercultural awareness and expertise in sustainable food, energy, and water systems (FEWS), specifically through off-grid technologies to address the lack of safe water, energy, and food security in Indigenous communities. Dr. Chief received a B.S. and M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University in 1998 and 2000, and a Ph.D. in Hydrology and Water Resources from the University of Arizona, in 2007. She also is a Distinguished Outreach Professor of the University of Arizona, the highest honor conferred upon faculty extension specialists.