Awanigiizhik Bruce (They/Them) is a Two-spirit artist from the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in ND. Awanigiizhik (uh-WUN-nih-KEY-shik) which means Foggy-Cedar in Ojibwe. Awanigiizhik is an accomplished diverse media artist, poet, Tribal community leader, strategic planner, networker, tour guide and volunteer. Awanigiizhik is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Art in Ojibwe Language, Culture and History at Turtle Mountain Community College.

Velva Kelly is a visual artist and social media specialist based in Olympia, Washington. Velva is going to graduate school to become an elementary school teacher. She has been drawing and painting since she was a child and has a bachelor's degree in Illustration from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.

Dr. Grace Mukupa serves as the associate director of TCU connections for Student Success at AIHEC. She holds a Ph.D. International Development from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is a Fulbright Scholar and a Peace Corps Volunteer. Her Ph.D. research was on food security and labor migration. She worked for the United Nations and the U.S. embassy in Tajikistan. During Peace Corps service, she worked at the Office of the European Union on cross-border programs for Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Greece.

Yasmin Santana is a Brazilian multidisciplinary theater and film actress, creative director, and designer based in New York City. She graduated with a BA in Performing Arts from the Artistic and Technological Training Center of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and a BA in Social Communications at PUC University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Yasmin has extensive experience in theater and film. Since 2015 she has worked as a company artist at 3LD Art and Technology Center developing new ways to incorporate digital technology in theater narratives for more than 200 productions. She is also Co-Founder of MôTif Productions - a non-profit that supports and creates art projects focusing on social justice.

As a designer and creative director, her credits include Esperpento by Victor Morales (Sundance Film Festival, B3 Frankfurt Biennial - Awarded as Best Immersive and Time Based Art) and The Other’s Shadow by Rodrigo Fisher. She has also created and provided design solutions for multiple renowned performing arts organizations in NY like Creative Time, Montclair State University, Renegade Performance Group, The Tank Theater, Group.BR, New Georges, The Builders Association, Origin Theater, Caborca Theatre, Pace University’s Theatre Department, MAX Media Art Exploration, HERE Arts Center, The Juilliard School, among others.

Moema Umann is a filmmaker and educator, with more than 12 years of experience. She worked on projects produced all around the world. After backpacking South America for 2 years, she moved to the Amazon to teach theater at a Yanomami community, strengthening her love for diversity. In New York City and China, she created with directors and experimental artists, solidifying her explorations of multimedia and technology. As the Film Coordinator and Production Manager at 3LD NYC, an art center that explores theater performances and new technologies, she worked as a producer and first assistant director for two productions filmed in 3D - The Downtown Loop and Tyson vs. Ali. She also directed the film version of the acclaimed performance Huang Yi & Kuka. Other media productions she managed were the Vogue annual party in Beijing, the Michael Kors launch in Shanghai, and the University of Maryland projection project. Many of her independent films were selected and awarded in different film festivals around the world. In Alaska, she collaborated with educators and scientists, reinforcing her passion and commitment to education and nature’s preservation. In 2018, she directed and produced the MôTif Film Festival in Fairbanks, Alaska.

She is currently the Media Coordinator at Iḷisaġvik College in Utqiaġvik (Barrow) Alaska.

Tamara Johnson is an educator, dancer, and writer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has been designing and facilitating experiential and arts education programming around the world for over a decade. Tamara is currently an Instructional Designer in the Online Learning department of the Institute of American Indian Arts. She is also Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director of a social impact dance organization called MoveWest.

Kathy Aplan, AIHEC Communications and PR Associate, is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She manages the social media, press releases, and newsletters for both the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the Tribal College Journal. And currently joins the FEWS Alliance working on their newsletter.

Jutta Treviranus is the Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) and professor in the faculty of Design at OCAD University in Toronto (http://idrc.ocadu.ca ). Jutta established the IDRC in 1993 as the nexus of a growing global community that proactively works to ensure that our digitally transformed and globally connected society is designed inclusively. Dr. Treviranus also founded an innovative graduate program in inclusive design at OCAD University. Jutta is credited with developing an inclusive design methodology that has been adopted by large enterprise companies, as well as public sector organizations internationally.

Matthew Fibla-Yates is serving for a second year as an IDC Faculty Advisor. Mr. Yates is a doctoral learner at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, is an American Indian College Fund Fellow, and serves as the Tribal Services Coordinator at the College of the Muscogee Nation.

Patrick Austin Freeland, Wind Clan of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma, is a communicator, mentor, and changemaker passionate about Indigenous innovation. His commitment is deeply rooted in fostering enduring relationships that serve as conduits for knowledge transfer, innovation, and healing. Through strategic collaborations, Patrick endeavors to hold spaces where Indigenous wisdom and academic inquiry intertwine, fostering relationships and advancing community. In the heart of Indian Country, Patrick's efforts are more than just a professional pursuit; they're a manifestation of his profound respect for cultural heritage and a testament to his visionary approach towards fostering a symbiotic relationship between tradition and modernity. Through his work with the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network, Patrick is a catalyst for meaningful dialogue, enduring partnerships, and transformative change.