| Commission Members |
| The Commission consists of 17 Commissioners, including seven Indian and two non-Indian members appointed by the Governor, and 8 Ex-Officio members who serve by the virtue of their office. The selection process for the appointed membership is highly competitive and is based off of recommendations made by each individual tribe. |
| Appointed Membership: |
| Ms. Lucinda Hughes-Juan of the Tohono O'odham Nation, Chair Lucinda is an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Lucinda was appointed to the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs in 2003 and re-appointed to a second term in January 2005. Lucinda also currently serves on the Tucson Pima Womens’ Commission. As a full-time faculty member with the Tohono O’odham Community College, she teaches courses in business management and personal development. Lucinda has been teaching with the college since 2000. Prior to her full-time position at TOCC, Lucinda managed her own company for approximately 7 years; MLS Training and Consulting, which provided professional development consulting and training services to Native American organizations. In 1999 she added a video production component to her company which produced many training and educational videos for Native American Organizations and U.S. Government programs. Her previous work experience includes: CPS/Child Welfare Worker for Child Protective Services, Homeownership Counselor, Trainer and Program Manger under the Tribal housing programs. Her educational achievements include: A.A. Degree in Social work, a Bachelors degree in Business Management and an MBA in Global Business Management. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate. Her doctorate field of study is Business and Organization Management with a concentration on Leadership. Mr. Cedric Kuwaninvaya of the Hopi Tribe, Vice Chair Cedric was appointed to the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs Board in 2007 and was quickly elected by his peers as Vice-Chairman. Cedric is an enrolled member of the Hopi tribe and is from the village of Shipaulovi. He has served as a representative from his village to the Hopi Tribal Council. Ms. GinaMarie Scarpa – Member at Large, Secretary A graduate of Arizona State University College of Non-Profit Management, she has dedicated her life to working with non-profit youth organizations remembering the positive influences these organizations had in her life growing up in a housing project in East Boston. Her non-profit work started as a volunteer for numerous Phoenix based youth organizations and she worked her way up to become the Executive Director of the A.C. Green Youth Foundation, founded by NBA “Iron Man” A.C. Green. She was instrumental in bringing the “Abstinence” message to schools and youth organization throughout Phoenix and implementing the A.C. Green Phoenix Youth Camp, a free camp for youth across the valley, as well as managing a 12 person staff. After almost 9 years with the AC Green Youth Foundation she embarked on a new adventure. In 2002, she co-founded Pod Productions, creators of NABI/Native American Basketball Invitational and the NABI Foundation, with Mark West, Vice President of Player Programs/Phoenix Suns and Scott Podleski, former Sales Manager, AZ Rattlers. She openly contributes her success in life to AC Green & Mark West for being great mentors, and her parents, Carmine F. Scarpa and Mary Garcia- Scarpa for their unconditional love and encouragement. Her favorite quote is: “A winner is a loser who keeps getting up.” In her role, as Managing Partner for Pod Productions, she is directly responsible for sponsorship development, marketing, tournament organization & operations, public and community relations of the NABI Tournament. And, overseeing the NABI Foundation, a donor advised fund under the Arizona Community Foundation. Ms. Elizabeth McNamee – Member at Large Ms. McNamee is Associate Director, Community Innovation and Development for St. Luke’s Health Initiatives (SLHI). SLHI is a health conversion foundation dedicated to improving the health of all Arizonans with a focus on strength-based development and resilience in local communities. She has previously served in senior executive positions in the public and the private health care sector in Texas and Arizona. In addition to the Commission, Ms. McNamee is involved with the Boards of Directors for HCE Quality Quest, the College of Nursing at Grand Canyon University and Mountain Park Health Center. Her academic achievements include B.A. degree from Trinity University, a MPH from the University of Texas, School of Public Health, and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ms. Cora Maxx Phillips of the Navajo Nation Ms. Phillips currently serves as the Executive Staff Assistant to Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, Jr., working on issues ranging from government, education, uranium, environmental health, social services, housing and international issues. She also serves as President of the Tuba City Chapter Land Use Planning Committee. For the past 25 years, she has worked in the filed of Social Human Services, Executive Administration, Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Housing, Education and Health. Some of her professional work has been presented and published by the national American Psychological Association, Federal Department of Justice, National Coalition of Juvenile Justice and the International Symposium for Substance Abuse Treatment, National Symposium n American Indian Families. She holds membership in the National Congress of American Indians, American Civil Liberties Union, National Association of Female Executives and other organizations. Ms. Maxx-Phillips holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Political Science from Dine College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and Social Planning from Northern Arizona University and a Master in Social Work from Arizona State University. Mr. Paul Nosie Jr. of the San Carlos Apache Tribe Mr. Nosie has 28 years of experience in Law Enforcement and is the Administrator for the San Carlos Adult/Juvenile Rehabilitation & Detention Center. Mr. Nosie has served the San Carlos Apache Tribe as the Director for the Game & Fish Department and Tribal Prosecutor. Prior to this, Mr. Nosie was formerly employed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety where he worked as a Patrolman, a Narcotic Agent and a Liquor Agent. Mr. Nosie serves his community in a multitude of ways including Board Chairman for the San Carlos Injury Prevention Coalition, Board President of the Mt. Turnbull Sanitation Service, Member of the Apaches for Cultural Preservation Coalition and as a Member of the Arizona Tribal Justice & Rehabilitation Coalition. In addition, he also serves as a consultant on the Apache traditions and culture. Mr. Taylor Satala of the Yavapai Apache Nation Mr. Satala, a Hopi and Yavapai Indian from Polacca is officially registered with the Camp Verde Yavapai-Apache Nation, his maternal linage. In February 2007, he retired from the Indian Health in Tucson where he held the position as the Area Director. Mr. Satala managed the primary care and community outreach programs for the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma in Douglas and one urban health program located in Tucson. Mr. Satala was commissioned in the National Health Service Corps in 1978 and served as a Medical Social Worker with the State Maternal and Child-Health programs in Rapid City, South Dakota until 1980. Mr. Satala then worked with the University of Kansas (KU) as an Extension Associate for the School of Social Welfare. In his position, he assisted in developing curriculum for then the Haskell Indian Junior College Mental Health Paraprofessional Training Project. While employed by KU, he attended the University of Kansas Social Welfare Post Graduate program in 1981-82. In December 1984 he began his career with the Indian Health Service as a Medical Social Worker at the Colorado River Service Unit, in Peach Springs, AZ. In 1985 he served as the Acting Health Center Director and later as the Health Center Director and Health System Administrator until 1989. Mr. Satala then accepted the position as the Service Unit Director for the Phoenix Area – Keams Canyon Service Unit until his selection as the Tucson Area Director, which he currently holds. By profession, Taylor is a Social Worker and an Arizona State Alumni. He received his Baccalaureate Degree in Social Work in 1976 and Masters of Social Work from Arizona State University in 1978. He also received an AA degree from City College of San Francisco in 1966. (Commission Vacancy) (Commission Vacancy) |
| Ex-Officio Membership: |
| On the behalf of The Honorable Janice K. Brewer, Governor of Arizona Katosha Nakai, Policy Advisor for Tribal Affairs Katosha Nakai currently serves as a Policy Advisor on Tribal Affairs to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Prior to state service, she practiced law at Lewis and Roca, LLP in Phoenix, where her practice focused on government regulation, infrastructure and resource development. She regularly represented corporate, small business, tribal and non-profit interests, focusing primarily on matters relating to water, environmental, natural resources, mining, utility and gaming issues. Ms. Nakai also held a prestigious judicial clerkship with Chief Judge Mary M. Schroeder at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and has experience with the Arizona Supreme Court Staff Attorneys’ Office, Judge James Tielborg of the United States District Court, District of Arizona, and as a law clerk to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Legal Department. Before entering the legal profession, Ms. Nakai worked in television news as a reporter, anchor and producer in both Oklahoma City and Minneapolis/St. Paul. She also served as media coordinator of the National Marrow Donor Program, communications director for the American Indian College Fund, and communications director of the Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning. She has a long list of professional accomplishments and has been featured in various publications. Ms. Nakai is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and earned both her Juris Doctorate and her Indian Law Certificate from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. On the behalf of The Honorable Terry Goddard, Arizona Attorney General Barbara Bailey, Special Counsel for Litigation Ms. Bailey is an Assistant Attorney General with the Arizona Solicitor General’s Office. Ms. Bailey’s responsibilities include advising and representing the Arizona Secretary of State in a variety of election matters, including challenges involving statewide ballot measures and candidate nomination petition challenges, as well as challenges involving state election laws. Ms. Bailey represents the Arizona Attorney General’s Office in campaign finance reporting enforcement matters and other election-related matters. In addition, her responsibilities include ensuring the State’s compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act preclearance provisions. Before joining the Solicitor General’s Office, Ms. Bailey was a partner with the law firm Perkins Coie Brown & Bain, where she worked on a wide range of complex litigation matters. Ms. Bailey received her law degree cum laude from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She also served as law clerk to the Honorable Ruth V. McGregor, at the Arizona Supreme Court and Arizona Court of Appeals. On the behalf of The Honorable Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Instruction Debora Norris, Indian Education Specialist Ms. Norris is Director of the Arizona Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education. Debora is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She is a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives, having served for three terms from 1997-2002. She is one of the first two Native American women elected at the same time to serve in the Arizona Legislature in 1996 (the other one is Sally Gonzales from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe). She has a background in Education policy and legislation from having served on the Arizona House of Representatives Education Committee for four years. Ms. Norris grew up in Sells, Arizona on the Tohono O’odham Nation. She graduated from Baboquivari High School in 1989. Four years later she graduated from of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California in 1993 with a B.A. in History and a minor Education. In 2006, Ms. Norris graduated with her Master’s in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Ms. Norris has worked with many Arizona Tribes, reservation school districts, and urban school districts with high Native American enrollment on public policy and education issues. In addition, she continues to work on Education issues in the Native American community and provides advocacy and technical assistance with NCLB, AZ LEARNS, AIMS, Title I, Title VII, and JOM. Ms. Norris is the first Director appointed under the Arizona Indian Education Act to implement A.R.S. 15-244, the state law that officially establishes the Office of Indian Education within the Arizona Department of Education. On the behalf of Interim Director William Humble, Arizona Department of Health Services Michael Allison, Native American Liaison Mr. Allison joined the Arizona Department of Health Services in January of 2001. His main responsibility, as Native American Liaison, is to enhance effective working relationship between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Native American health care community comprised of twenty-one tribal health departments, three urban Indian health programs, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., three Indian Health Service Area Offices, and other agencies providing health services to the Arizona Native American community. He is a member of the Navajo Nation originally from Shiprock, New Mexico. His Navajo clans are Ta’chii’nii (red running into the water people) and Naakaaii Dine (the Mexican Navajo people). Mr. Allison earned his Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of New Mexico in 1974 and his Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Arizona in May 2003. He has thirty years of management work experience in small business development, tribal economic development, health care management, and public health. Former positions held by Michael include: Executive Director, Navajo Division of Economic Development; Executive Vice President, National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development; and Executive Director, Native American Community Health Center, Inc. Michael serves on the following state commission and boards: Ex-Officio Board Member, Arizona Commission on Indian Affairs; Member, Advisory Council on Indian Health Care. On the behalf of Director Don Cardon, Arizona Department of Commerce David Drennon, Communications Director After 15 years in television news, David Drennon joined the Arizona Department of Commerce in May 2005 to lead the agency’s communication and public outreach activities. Currently he promotes the agency’s leadership in statewide community, workforce and economic development efforts that aim to ensure Arizona’s global competitiveness. His broadcast career began in his hometown of Sacramento, California. He went on to manage newsrooms in Santa Barbara, California and Phoenix, Arizona. Drennon is a board member of the Arizona Association of Economic Development, the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Committee, and Phoenix Theatre. On the behalf of Director Sherry Henry, Arizona Office of Tourism Dawn Melvin, Native American Tourism Development Manager As the Native American Tourism Development Manager Ms. Melvin provides outreach to Tribes providing information on the agency’s expertise and programs. As the agency raises awareness of these opportunities and expands work with the Tribes, it gains a better understanding of the Tribal communities’ tourism development goals. The Arizona Office of Tourism created the position to guide its efforts to assist Arizona’s Native American communities in developing and promoting their tourism offerings. She also provides assistance to internal divisions to support the division’s work with Tribes. She is responsible for oversight of AOT’s Native American Tourism Advisory Committee and serves as a liaison to its members. Prior to this, Ms. Melvin previously worked at the Arizona State University on the West Campus, where she served as Senior Coordinator for Student Development and Native American Student Services Programs. Her academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Tourism Management and a postgraduate certificate in Gerontology from Arizona State University in 1999. On the behalf of Director John Halikowski, Arizona Department of Transportation Misty Dayzie, Tribal Planner Ms. Dayzie is a Tribal Planner for the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Planning Division (ADOT-MPD). Misty has worked for ADOT from 2001-2005 as a scheduler and as a project manager. Prior to her current role as a Tribal Planner and Coordinator, she worked for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Ms. Dayzie is responsible for managing the establishment or update of long range transportation plans for Tribal Governments. She provides regional transportation planning support and coordination for the 22 Federally recognized Tribal Governments and communities across the state. She also functions as an in-house expert on tribal issues and is accountable to maintain compliance with federal and state laws, regulations and policies. Most recently, she has been assigned the leading role of recommending updates to current ADOT planning processes, procedures and policies to incorporate tribal consultation, cooperation and coordination with the Arizona Tribes. On behalf of Director Neal Young, Arizona Department of Economic Security Judith Fritsch, Program Administrator for Community Partnerships and Innovative Practices Judith is the Program Administrator for the Division of Aging and Adult Services, Community Services Office as well as Interim Tribal Liaison for the Department. Responsibilities include oversight for statewide Emergency Services and Community Action Programs, Utility Discount Programs, State Homeless Coordination office, Domestic Violence Prevention Program, and the Community Development Coordination office, which includes a targeted effort to increasing the capacity of Arizona communities and engaging in Faith-Based partnerships. Prior roles within DES include various management positions with the Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility, Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services and as the Intergovernmental Tribal and Community Liaison for the Director’s Office of Intergovernmental Operations. Judith has 21 years of experience as a DES employee. |