Alicia Mitchell

Alicia Mitchell joined the AISES staff in July 2019 and serves as the Director of Tribal and Government Relations. She brings to the team experience gained with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in advancing Indigenous people in STEM, empowering youth, and fostering collaboration. In her AISES role, she is responsible for working closely with Tribal communities and government partners to identify funding resources and sponsorships, writing proposals, soliciting major gifts, and helping coordinate special events. She is also the staff liaison for the Tribal Nations Advisory Council and the Government Relations Council.

Prior to joining the staff, Alicia served on the AISES Board of Directors and was elected vice chair. During her time on the Board, she was instrumental in forming the EBCI AISES Tribal Chapter — one of two tribal chapters initiated in 2019. In 2016 she was honored with the inaugural AISES Tribal Partner Service Award.

A Cherokee Nation citizen, Alicia hopes to make a generational impact by fostering strong leadership across Indian country. At the Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute at the EBCI, she supported students in the Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program and initiated grants through the Qualla Education Collaborative at Cherokee Central Schools. Alicia is a certified Native Life Skills Trainer who is passionate about building stronger Indigenous communities through enhancing self-reliance in Indigenous youth. Her experience includes advocating for Indigenous youth on Capitol Hill and serving as a member of the Qualla Education Collaborative. An especially rewarding achievement was advancing workforce development for tribal members in Cherokee, N.C. Her position at AISES allows Alicia to pursue many of her goals including supporting economic and workforce development, promoting tribal sovereignty, and increasing diversity in organizations throughout North America.

Alicia received a BS in sociology at Western Carolina University with a concentration in Native American health. She grew up in Oklahoma and Arizona and spent 23 years on the Qualla Boundary, the homelands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Alicia has relocated back to the Ocotillo area of Arizona, living near her daughter and son. They enjoy hiking, going to the gym, cooking and living an active healthy lifestyle enjoying all that the beautiful state of Arizona has to offer.