As an Indigenous mother, wife, sister, daughter, Tía, niece, educator, and leader, I am committed to dismantling settler colonialism and centering the liberation of Native and Indigenous communities within higher education. My ancestry derives from the Tarahumara, or Rarámuri tribe within the unceded lands now known as Chihuahua, Mexico. Identifying as both Native and Indigenous, I am deeply aware of the complexities of intersecting identities. I centered my dissertation research on addressing colonial harm and amplifying Native presence within the community college context. As the inaugural director of the First Peoples Native Center, I strive to create spaces that honor and uplift our communities. Guided by my ancestors and the principle of planning for seven generations forward, I remain steadfast in my vision for transformative change. I previously earned my Associates degree from Glendale Community College, my Bachelors in History from CSU Los Angeles, Masters in Counseling and Student Development from Azusa Pacific University, and have recently completed my Doctor of Education degree also at APU, with a focus on Indigenous ways of knowing and storytelling.