Nikki is of the Diné (Navajo) Nation and resides in Northern Arizona. She is the co-manager of ITEP’s Tribes & Climate Change Program and interim assistant director of ITEP, whose goal is to strengthen tribal capacity and sovereignty in environmental and natural resource management through culturally relevant education, research, partnerships, and policy-based services. She works across the continental US and Alaska on climate-change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience planning with Tribal/Indigenous partners to assist Tribal Nations in addressing and preparing for climate change impacts. ITEP works in partnership with various federal, nonprofit, academic, and community entities. Nikki has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forestry from Northern Arizona University with an emphasis on traditional/Indigenous knowledges. She speaks and teaches her children the Diné language and culture.