Kellie joined the AISES team in 2015 and serves as the Vice President of Business Development. In her role, she works with corporate, federal, tribal, and foundation partners who invest in AISES by supporting events and programs. She enjoys developing new and innovative programs in STEM education for PK-12 students, programs that support students pursuing higher education, and engaging partners who have an interest in connecting with Indigenous STEM students

Ariella Apodaca is a descendant of the Navajo Nation. She joined AISES in June 2024 and works closely with both the President of AISES and VP of Business Development. She has achieved her associates and bachelor’s degree in Cellular/Molecular Biology with minors in Chemistry and Business at Adams State University. She also completed her master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Marketing at Post University in December 2024.

Hope contributes her organizational and interpersonal relational skills for the Development team. Her role at AISES includes prospecting and leading servicing for corporate, government, and tribal sponsors and partners. Hope leads and manages exhibitor servicing during the AISES National Conference; which includes but is not limited to sales, attendee registrations and booth assignments. Hope supports the facilitation and planning of the annual Native Links Golf Tournament. Hope completed her undergraduate

April is a Diné tribal member from Dennehotso, AZ and the Pueblos of Acoma and Santa Ana in NM and is Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge Clan) born for the Kəətsi (Antelope Clan). April has served the technology and digital space in a multitude of ways including IT and data management, digital literacy and engagement, online curriculum design, graphic design, and helped grow a federal contracting IT startup to a multi-million dollar

As Managing Director of Special Events, Katherine Cristiano excels in building external relationships, creating an exceptional level of customer service, and overseeing multiple logistics of events and meetings to diverse individuals and audiences who are networked with AISES. Her goal is to design events that exceed organizational benchmarks and are achieved with finesse and total satisfaction. Her skilled background in sales, business, information technology, and communication are immensely valuable as

Karen English began her career teaching college history courses, then moved to publishing when she was drafted to work on the multivolume book series The Vietnam Experience. She went on to edit other continuity book series, as well as business and consumer newsletters and direct marketing collateral. During her tenure in custom publishing, she has been editing magazines and associated content, both print and digital. She has worked on award-winning publications

Kristen Goodfriend joined the AISES family in late 2014 as the Art Director for Winds of Change magazine. She has 20+ years of magazine layout and art direction experience, including several years working in custom publishing, and as Design Director of Boston’s largest weekly news, arts and culture publication, the late Boston Phoenix. Kristen brings her years of design and layout expertise to Winds of Change. Understanding the audience and

Chris brings a wealth of organization and leadership experience to AISES. Hired as the Operation Officer, he works closely with the President and Senior Vice President to analyze and improve organizational process and workflow. Chris also advises and enforces standards and procedures, implements policy, assists in human resource and recruitment, and creates an enjoyable company culture. Chris is extremely adept at communicating and managing relationships with key partners and vendors.

Taylor Kingsbery serves as the Senior Director of Business Development at AISES, where she helps lead efforts to foster strategic partnerships, manage all business development activities for AISES annual events, and serve as staff liaison for the AISES Corporate Advisory Council, all to support Indigenous representation in STEM fields. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Taylor is a proud enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and a descendant of the Choctaw