Bio

Tiffany S. Lee (Diné /Lakota) is Dibé Łizhiní (Blacksheep) and born for Naałaní (Oglala Lakota).  She is from Crystal, New Mexico, located on the Navajo Nation, on her mother’s side, and Pine Ridge, South Dakota on her father’s side.  Dr. Lee is a Professor and Chair of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico.  She earned her doctorate in Sociology of Education from Stanford University.  Her research examines Native youth perspectives with regard to language reclamation and identity.  She also investigates socio-culturally centered educational approaches.   In 2016, she was awarded a grant from the Spencer Foundation to examine the impact of Indigenous language immersion schools on Native American student achievement.  Some of her publications include: Critical language awareness among Native youthin New Mexico in Indigenous youth and multilingualism: Language identity, ideology, and practice in dynamic cultural worlds, and “You should learn who you are through your culture”: Transformative educational possibilities for Native American youth in New Mexico in Cultural transformations: Youth and pedagogies of possibility. She is the former President of the Navajo Studies Conference, Inc and a former high school social studies and language arts teacher at schools on the Navajo Nation and at Santa Fe Indian School.  She is also a member of the New Mexico Indian Education Advisory Council for the NM Office of Indian Education.