Celebrate STEM excellence at the 2026 AISES National Conference in Portland, Oregon as we recognize outstanding individuals who epitomize brilliance within Indigenous communities and institutionally in their workplaces.
AISES Professional Awardees are perpetual learners and visionaries, driven by a fervor for fostering high-quality collective thinking. As builders, they craft platforms that empower their organizations and communities. Whether embracing formal science later in life or creatively infusing Indigenous values into their work, these trailblazers produce innovation and inspiration.
Diné
Diné
Kanaka ʻŌiwi, Native Hawaiian
Diné/Hopi
Lumbee
Kanaka ʻŌiwi, Native Hawaiian
Diné
Katrina Claw, PhD, is a Diné geneticist who researches how medicines can more effectively respond to differences in how people metabolize nicotine. In 2024, the National Science Foundation gave its highest honor for early-career scientists, the Waterman Award, to Dr. Claw. She is a key architect of frameworks for ethical genomic research with Indigenous communities, including widely cited models that emphasize sovereignty, trust-building, and culturally appropriate data stewardship. With various partners, she has done significant work in defining Diné cultural dimensions of health research–including creating a Diné glossary of 200+ genetics and genomics terms. A 2025 summit on genetics research was held relative to a 20-year ban on such research on the Navajo Nation. Dr. Claw credits her participation in the AISES Lighting the Pathway initiative in solidifying her faculty career path as an associate professor of biomedical informatics and personalized medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
The AISES Professional of the Year Award is presented for overall leadership and technical achievement. Because this individual is selected from among the top candidates submitted in all categories, individual nominations for this award are not accepted.
2025: Dr. Karina Walters (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)
2024: Paula Starr (Cherokee)
2023: Joseph “Joey” Owle (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
2022: Deneen Hernandez
2021: Dr. Crystal Tulley-Cordova
2020: Kathleen Jolivette
2019: Dr. Wendy F. Smythe
2018: Naomi Lee, Ph.D.
2017: William Tiger
2016: Karletta Chief, Ph.D.
2015: Pat Gwin
2014: Dr. A. D. Cropper (Kalinago Carib)
2013: Randall McKee (Cherokee)
2012: Jeff Kinneeveauk (Inupiat Eskimo)
2011: Jerry R. Roberson, D.V.M., Ph.D. (Cherokee)
2010: David Daniel (Cherokee)
2009: Kimberley Oldham (Musgogee Nation)
2008: Jason Cummings, Ph.D. (Lumbee/Coharie)
2007: Lorena Hegdal (Inupiaq Eskimo)
2006: Frank Martinez (Navajo)
2005: Nancy Jackson, Ph.D. (Seneca Nation of New York)
2004: Richard Kevin “Savik” Glenn (Inupiaq Eskimo)
Diné
Nathaniel Todea is a Diné engineer integrating technical expertise with a deep commitment to responsible water stewardship across the Southwest. With academic training in anthropology and civil engineering, he serves as a hydraulic engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, where he supports the design, operation, and management of critical water infrastructure. Spanning watershed analysis, river and stream restoration, fire hydrology, and dam rehabilitation, his work blends technical expertise with cultural knowledge that regards water as a sacred, living entity. He operates key facilities within the Colorado River Storage Project—critical facilities that provide water and hydropower to millions of people. After being named AISES Most Promising Engineer in 2008, Todea volunteers as a mentor and teacher with multiple STEM programs promoting Indigenous participation and success.
The Technical Excellence awardee has made a significant contribution to science, engineering, or technology by having designed, developed, managed, or assisted in the development of a product, service, system, or intellectual property.
2025: Dr. Franklin Dollar (Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians)
2024: Dr. Mary Jo Ondrechen (Mohawk Nation)
2023: Keith Parker (Yurok)
2022: James Leatham
2021: Aaron Yazzie
2020: Laura Smith-Velazquez
2019: Dr. Otakuye Conroy-Ben
2018: Nedlaya Francisco
2017: Ginger Hernandez
2016: Tara Astigarraga
2015: Sarah Lauff
2014: Joe Connolly (Haudenosaunee of the Onondaga Nation-Wolf Clan from Six Nations Reserve of the Grand River)
2013: Lawrence Short Bull (Rosebud Sioux)
2012: Christopher “Scott” Nordahl Ph.D., Doyon Limited (Alleut Alaskan Native)
2011: Tony Ferguson (Citizen Band of Potowatomi)
2010: Karen McDaniel (Navajo)
2009: Robert Harper, Ph.D. (Mississippi Choctaw)
2008: Jacklin Adams (Wyandot)
2007: Stanley Atcitty, Ph.D. (Navajo)
2006: Chris J. Cornelius, Ph.D. (Oneida)
2005: Mark Hakey, Abanaki tribe (St. Francis-Sokoki Band)
2004: Not awarded
The Technical Excellence award is designated for an individual who has made a significant contribution to their STEM field/industry through research, design, development, or strategy. Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The following items are required for the nomination package:
Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian)
The research of Kyle Yoshida, PhD (Kanaka ʻŌiwi, Native Hawaiian), focuses on designing soft robots and haptic technologies that serve agriculture, education, and healthcare while supporting cultural stewardship. As assistant professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, he leads the Mohala Lab, which is developing pneumatic, fabric-based robots for agriculture (e.g., fruit picking and pest management) using human-centered designs. Haptic devices simulate touch to display connections with robots, virtual agents, and other humans; and Dr. Yoshida advances the design of human-robot interfaces, including methods using body movements to intuitively control robotic systems and wearable devices that facilitate communication with robots. Other work focuses on smartphone-based systems for in-home health monitoring, such as using human responses to smartphone vibrations that can monitor physical symptoms linked to onset of diabetes. A member of the AISES Lighting the Pathway initiative, he founded and led Honua Scholars, a STEM mentorship program that has become a key hub for Native Hawaiian career development.
The Most Promising Engineer or Scientist recognizes a professional engineer or scientist with less than five years of workforce experience after earning a professional degree with early technical contributions indicating a promising career.
2025: Dr. Cherie De Vore (Diné)
2024: Dr. Jesse Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Nakota from White Bear First Nations)
2023: Aurora White (Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians)
2022: Angela Teeple
2021: Dr. Josiah Hester
2020: Dr. Serra Hoagland
2019: Dylan Moriarty
2018: Joshua John
2017: Thomas Reed
2016: Michael Dockry, Ph.D.
2015: Franklin Dollar
2014: Mitchell Martin, Cherokee
2013: Kristina Halona, Navajo
2012: Lauren M. Wolf, Choctaw Tribe of Oklahoma
2011: Benjamin Mar, Cherokee
2010: Karletta Chief, Ph.D., Navajo
2009: Not awarded
2008: Nathaniel Todea, Navajo
2007: Tara Astigarraga, Choctaw
2006: Bevan Baas, Ph.D., Navajo
2005: John DeBassige, Ojibwe
2004: Aaron Thomas, Ph.D., Navajo
To acknowledge an early career professional, AISES established the Most Promising Engineer or Scientist award. The nominees must be a STEM professional or academic with less than five years’ experience after earning their last degree. The candidates’ early technical contributions should already indicate a promising career. Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The following items are required for the nomination package:
Diné/Hopi
Commander Juliane Junes-Harvey of the Indian Health Service (IHS) provides executive leadership in the planning, design, and delivery of essential infrastructure to improve public health and strengthen Tribal self-determination. She currently serves as Deputy Director for Project Support and Phoenix Area National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Coordinator for the IHS Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction. Over 15 years at IHS, she has held multiple leadership positions and overseen 250+ sanitation infrastructure projects involving drinking water delivery, wastewater systems, and solid waste facilities to 77,800 households across 46 Tribal communities. She is part of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of the nation’s uniformed services committed to health. The Navajo-Hopi engineer’s leadership in environmental compliance has supported the protection of cultural and natural resources for more than 200 infrastructure projects.
The Executive Excellence award is presented to an Indigenous senior executive who is in upper-level management or is an experienced engineer, scientist, professional, or academician with extensive knowledge in budget concept, management practice, technical achievement, and contributions to business.
2025: Robert Turner (Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe)
2024: Dr. Joseph Bull (Delaware Tribe of Indians)
2023: John Desjarlais (Nehinaw Metis)
2022: Christian O’Gorman
2021: Tobin Beal
2020: Brendan Kinkade
2018: Christopher Payne
2017: Gary Burnette
2016: Richard Johnson
2015: Mel Yawakie
2014: Mike Laverdure (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa)
2013: Robbie E. Hood (Cherokee)
2012: Linda Benson Kusumoto (Tsimshian Nation, Annette Island Metlakatla)
2011: Terry-Lee Braun (Seneca Nation)
2010: Not awarded
2009: Olav Kjono (Mohawk)
2008: CAPT. Jeffrey Trussler (Cherokee)
2007: Gary Bishop (White Earth Ojibway)
2006: Ray Hanes, Ph.D. (Cherokee)
2005: Johnpaul Jones (Choctaw/Cherokee)
2004: Richard Stephens (Pala Band of Mission Indians)
This award acknowledges an Indigenous professional or academic serving as an executive leader within their organization or institution. The nominee must be an experienced upper-level manager or a well-established engineer, scientist, professional, or academic who has significant department and budget responsibilities. Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The following items are required for the nomination package:
Lumbee
Josh Hammonds is a multi-dimensional leader at Cisco Systems across technical, organizational, and volunteer areas. Leading nearly 200 co-workers, Hammonds oversees the Cisco TAC (CX Centers) organization, based in the Research Triangle Park North Carolina office. Joining the company in 2007, the Lumbee Tribal member is global co-lead for the Native American Network, Cisco’s Native employee resource group. Hammonds created an apprentice program that intentionally recruited from Tribal Colleges and Native-serving institutions, including Turtle Mountain College within North Dakota and his alma mater, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he is an active supporter. He is a recognized subject matter expert within Cisco, where he has sought to make Native people visible, credentialed, and supported in rigorous STEM fields so that such careers feel reachable and not exceptional.
The Blazing Flame Award is presented to an individual who “blazes” a path for Indigenous people in STEM careers. This award recognizes individuals with 10 or more years of professional experience with significant accomplishments in advancing STEM education and careers.
2025: Dr. Kelsea Kanoho Hosoda (Kanaka ʻŌiwi, Native Hawaiian)
2024: Sunny Myers (Lumbee/Sappony)
2023: Heather Heckler (Brothertown Indian Nation)
2022: Rachel Yellowhair
2021: Leona Anderson
2020: Frances Dupris
2019: Sheila Lopez
2018: Deanna Burgart
2017: Brandon Polingyumptewa
2016: Marie Capitan
The Blazing Flame Award recognizes an Indigenous advocate who promotes STEM education and/or career advancement for Indigenous people within their organization or community. Nominees should have 10 or more years of professional experience. Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The following items are required for the nomination package:
Kanaka ʻŌiwi, Native Hawaiian
Called Doctor Irvine or Kumu Irvine, Lelemia Irvine, PhD, was the first appointed physics faculty at the University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu. In Hawaiian culture, Kumu is more than just a teacher; Kumu is a guide, a mentor, and a holder of wisdom, entrusted with nurturing the next generation in both knowledge and spirit. Unlike conventional educators who focus solely on academic knowledge, Kumu Irvine integrates cultural values and ancestral teachings into their work. A dedicated cultural practitioner-scholar, he co-founded the forum @AwaAndTalanoa, focusing on embodied research and Indigenous approaches to transforming scholarly spaces. At the center are embodied practices that bring ceremony, protocol, and dialogue into STEM and academic spaces. Kumu Irvine was the first Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander male to earn a PhD in any discipline of engineering from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
The Indigenous Excellence Award acknowledges an individual who has done substantial work for 10 or more years to advance programs and opportunities for Indigenous students and professionals within their Indigenous community and/or in support of Indigenous people at the national level.
2025: Jennifer Randell (Citizen Potawatami Nation)
2024: Alice Sanchez (Pomo/Choctaw/Native Hawaiian)
2023: Ashley Lomboy (Waccamaw Siouan)
2022: Dr. Sonia Ibarra
2021: Deborah Tewa
2020: Sandra Begay
2019: Yona Wade
The Indigenous Excellence award is to acknowledge individuals who exhibit excellence in furthering, uplifting, and engaging in Indigenous STEM knowledge through their scholarly work and career. Indigenous professionals with 10 or more years of experience with a majority of their work within or on behalf of tribal/Indigenous communities or incorporating Indigenous knowledge will be considered. Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
The following items are required for the nomination package:
