91ԭƬ

Antoinette Cavanaugh

Antoinette Harney Cavanaugh is a Native Nevadan, born in Owyhee, Nevada and is a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. She spent most of her youth growing up in Owyhee, NV. She graduated from Boise State University in 1983, BA, and from the 91ԭƬ in 1989 receiving her MA in Educational Administration and Higher Education.

Antoinette began her career as an educator in 1983 where she taught English, literature and math at Owyhee Combined School and later became a vice principal. In 1993 she helped to establish the Spring Creek Junior High/High School as a vice-principal. As a new principal in 1997, Mrs. Cavanaugh was selected to plan, design and open the first middle school in Elko County School District at the Spring Creek Middle School. In 2002, Antoinette became the Director of Federal and Special Programs for Elko County School District, and in 2003, she was selected as the Superintendent of Schools for Elko County. She remained the superintendent until 2010 when she retired.

According to the Nevada Indian Commission, Antoinette was the first Native American in the history of Nevada to become a public school district superintendent. She has many educational awards reflecting service to public education at the state and national level. She earned recognition from the National Association of Secondary School Principals as Nevada’s Assistant Principal of the Year. In 2001 she was named Nevada’s “Best of Education Principal” by the Reno Gazette Journal. In 2007, Antoinette was named, “Nevada’s Superintendent of the Year,” by the Nevada State School Board Association. In January 2010, Antoinette’s educational journey was a featured profile article entitled, “An Enormous Leap from the Reservation,” in the national American Association of School Administrators’ publication, The Administrator. At the 2014 Nevada Department of Education American Indian/Alaska Native Education Summit, Antoinette received the “Pesa Namanedu” Award which means, in the Paiute language, “Something that has been done well.”

Antoinette, from 2013-2019 served eight Western Shoshone Tribes of Nevada as an educational consultant through Barrick Gold Mines. She provided professional education services to partner tribes and worked with Shoshone children/tribal members to improve their academic performance and planned and scheduled higher education visitations and provided career training opportunities. In a 2015 special edition of Beyond Borders, a Barrick publication, her history and educational work with Western Shoshone youth was featured in an article entitled, “The Life Changer: Antoinette Cavanaugh inspiring Western Shoshone youth to Dream Big.”

In 2020, Antoinette, served as the Interim CEO for the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation and currently is pursuing her Ph.D. from the University of Nevada Reno in Education Leadership with a focus on higher education and she has been named a Dean’s Graduate Fellow under the Tribal Student Program for the 2023-24 academic year.

Aiyana Isham

Aiyana Isham is currently in her final semester of the Criminal Justice Master's program at the 91ԭƬ, with plans to graduate in May 2025. A proud member of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, she was born and raised in Nevada. Aiyana earned her Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the 91ԭƬ in 2021, furthering her dedication to the field. As the oldest of four siblings, she strives to serve as a role model for both her siblings and the youth in her community. Her commitment to community and family is a driving force in her life. In addition, Aiyana is passionate about advocating for other Native Americans who face adversity, working to amplify their voices and address their challenges. She currently works for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony as the Education Advisor, where she contributes to the academic success of her community. Aiyana currently resides in Reno with her husband, where she continues to pursue her academic and professional goals

Kristen Quigley

Kristen Quigley is a Ph.D. student in Integrative Neuroscience at the UNR, with an expected graduation date of May 2026. She is also pursuing a Master's in Kinesiology, which she is set to complete in May 2025. Kristen's research focuses both on sport-related concussion and “swimmers shoulder”, with an emphasis on cognitive testing for concussion.

 As an Indigenous scholar, Kristen has been recognized with the 2024 Tribal Students Program Graduate Scholarship and serves as an Academic Mentor for Tribal Student Services at the University. Her commitment to research excellence has earned her the 2023-2024 Nevada Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award, 2022-2023 Nevada Drive Scholarship, and other academic accolades.

Kristen's academic journey is complemented by her athletic background as a former Division I swimmer and current Assistant Coach for UNR's swim team. She actively contributes to the Indigenous community through her role as an Academic Coach for the Rising Natives Graduate Program, and her former role as the Head Swim Coach for Indigenous Team Ontario.

With a passion for neuroscience and a strong commitment to Indigenous representation in academia, Kristen exemplifies the spirit of academic excellence and community engagement at the 91ԭƬ.

Ryan Rogers

My name is Ryan Rogers, and I am a member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe. I earned my undergraduate degree from UNR and completed my Master’s at Sierra Nevada College (now known as the Tahoe campus). I am currently enrolled in the Educational Doctoral program at the University. I have worked for the Washoe County School District for 14 years. I have mostly taught 5th and 6th grades, and last year, I accepted the position of Dean of Students at my elementary school. I also serve as the Parent Advisory Committee Vice-Chair for our local Native American Culture & Education Program. My wife, two boys, and I enjoy traveling, camping, and cheering on the 49ers, Giants, and Wolf Pack!

Caden Salois

My name is Caden Salois, and I am a proud member of the Blackfeet Tribe from Browning, Montana. I am a former member of the Nevada Army National Guard and hold a B.S. in Public Health from the 91ԭƬ (UNR), as well as a Master’s in Sustainability from Hawai‘i Pacific University. Currently, I am completing my final semester of a Master’s in Public Health at the University. I am deeply passionate about addressing critical public health challenges, particularly those affecting Indigenous communities and our most vulnerable populations.

My work focuses on agriculture, youth mental health, and reconnecting people to their cultural and environmental roots. I believe that fostering a healthier relationship with the environment is essential not only for planetary sustainability but also for improving public health outcomes. My educational background drives my efforts to tackle issues like chronic diseases, food insecurity, malnutrition, and climate change by emphasizing the importance of sustainable nutrition and traditional practices.

Jamiika Thomas

Jamiika Thomas is an enrolled tribal member of the Navajo Nation and a doctoral student in the Psychology Program (Behavior Analysis Specialization) at the 91ԭƬ. She holds both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in Psychology from the University. 

Her experiences in behavior analysis include working with adults with intellectual disabilities at UNR’s Person-centered Assessment, Training and Rehabilitation Program and, more recently, with children at UNR’s Spectrum Learning Center. She has served as a teaching assistant in behavior analysis and psychology courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

She co-managed the Human Operant Lab where she mentored undergraduate students in experimental research. Several of her research collaborations have been published in peer-reviewed journals, including The Analysis of Verbal Behavior and The Psychological Record. Her research interests include verbal behavior, cultural behavior, and improving access to higher education for Native American students.  

Jamiika’s service activities center around increasing the welfare, representation, and autonomy of Indigenous students and peoples. She currently serves as co-president of the Native Graduate Student Alliance at the University. She has also recently served as the Doctoral Student Representative to the Native American Mural Committee for the Great Basin Indigenous Mural. 

Markie Wilder

My name is Markie Wilder. I am Numu/Kooyooe Tukuadu from Pyramid Lake, Nevada. In 2014, I received my Bachelor of General Studies degree with an emphasis in Public Health and Psychology. In 2016, I graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership. After graduate school, I worked at Natchez Elementary School through an educational non-profit that provided schoolwide and individualized support to students and the community.  Currently, I am the interim Director for the University’s Multicultural Center.  Additionally, a doctoral student in the College of Education and Human Development.

Gaylene Williams

Gaylene Williams is Numu-Kooyooe Tukadu (Pyramid Lake Paiute), from Pyramid Lake, Nevada. She has most recently worked with the Nevada First-Gen Network as a Program Coordinator where she collaboratively supported 27 stakeholders from throughout the state of Nevada. Gaylene worked on the Native American Enhancement Project for the Nevada Department of Education to enrich the educational experience for students throughout the state as they learn about Nevada tribes.

During her time with the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Education Department, she worked with members of the community, providing wrap-around services to help ensure client success in education, training, and workforce development.

She taught Elementary School for the Bureau of Indian Education and at a public school situated within the boundaries of a reservation.

Gaylene maintains strong ties to her language and culture.  She believes education is key for Indigenous communities to maintain their sovereignty and right to self-determination.

Education:

• B.S. Elementary Education, 91ԭƬ
• M.A. Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies

Erica “Ricky” Klafehn (she/her/ella)

Ricky is an Indigenous Latinx Ph.D. student in the Anthropology doctoral program at the University specializing in forensic anthropology. She is a recipient of the Dean’s Merit Fellowship and a member of the University Tribal Students Program. She also serves as the treasurer for the Graduate Board of Anthropology Students (BOASgrad) and as a representative for the College of Liberal Arts in the Graduate Student Association.

Ricky completed her M.S. in Forensic Science (2022) and B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology (2016) from John Jay College of Criminal Justice - City University of New York (CUNY). During her time at John Jay, Ricky was a member of the Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM) and Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, where she conducted forensic anthropology and entomology research under Dr. Angelique Corthals and Dr. Jennifer Rosati. For her master’s thesis, Ricky investigated the effects of blow fly larvae feeding on sharp force trauma (SFT) wound patterns in decomposing bones. At the University, Ricky is working under associate professor Dr. Marin Pilloud; she hopes to either continue her research in taphonomy or explore the ethics of forensic anthropology, and hopes to pursue a career as a forensic anthropologist in a medicolegal or humanitarian setting.

In her free time, Ricky loves to watch and play sports, listen to and play music, and spend time with her friends and family. She is an avid movie-goer, loves board games, and enjoys learning about different cultures. You can often find her at a local Starbucks enjoying a refreshing cup of coffee, or at the fields playing softball.

Mariah Sierras

B.S. Environmental Science

Mariah Sierras graduated with a degree in environmental science with a specialization in ecological conservation and restoration. Mariah is a proud tribal member of the Rose Bud Sioux Nation in South Dakota. She was born in Oakland, California, but moved to Fernley, Nevada, when she was 10, where she eventually graduated from high school.

When asked why she chose her degree, Mariah said, “I love the outdoors and feel like it is a great way for me to make changes. I hope somehow to get involved in more cultural ecological activities.” When not studying or working, Mariah enjoys biking, running and music. If she were to be a superhero, she says she would be Wonder Woman, because it takes her back to her childhood. Mariah is considering graduate school and is currently looking for employment within her field of study.

Zachary Cady

B.A. Criminal Justice

Zachary Cady graduated with a degree in criminal justice. Zach grew up on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee, Nevada, but has tribal affiliation with the Wind River Tribe in Wyoming. Zach graduated from Owyhee High School and is 22 years old. Zach chose his degree because he would like to become a game warden. He discovered this path through his tribe, family and friends. “Family and friends were instrumental in this decision,” he said. When asked what his greatest achievement has been, Zach stated, “Getting through college, when I graduate!”

If Zach was a superhero, he said he would be Spiderman because he is, “a guy about community! He’s all about community and looking out for the little guy.“ Zach would like to eventually pursue a graduate degree, but would like to first find a path toward becoming a game warden.