Heather Sauyaq Jean Kwamboka Gordon, Phd (Iñupiaq) Email & Phone Number

Homer, Ak, Us

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

-Qualitative Methods -Intercultural Communications

A dissertation committee member supporting two Indigenous Studies PhD students.

Little River, Sc, Usa

Alaska Native, woman owned, independent consulting firm. Sauyaq Solutions (Mission: Kamagigikput Sivulliavut -Iñupiaq for: we honor our ancestors) is a consulting company specializing in relationship building, sustainability, climate change, conservation, futures research and workshops, Arctic research, cultural education and learning modules, evaluation, website content, technical assistance, as well as Indigenous health and wellbeing. I enjoy holding relationship building workshops (working with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners), futures scenario workshops, as well as speaking about my work in keynotes and other engagements. I am also adept at Indigenous methodologies, participatory and community led research, Co production of knowledge, evaluation, and interviews/focus groups. I also have extensive grant writing, academic writing, and brief policy writing experience.

The Native Children’s Research Exchange (NCRE) brings together researchers studying child development from birth through emerging adulthood in Native communities. NCRE provides opportunities for the open exchange of information and ideas and for building collaborative relationships and disseminating knowledge about Native children’s development. Mentoring early career investigators and graduate students, particularly those who are American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian community members, is central to NCRE’s mission.The NCRE Scholars Program provides career development support to early career investigators and late-stage graduate students interested in pursuing research on substance use and disorder and Native child and adolescent development. In the first eight years of this program (2012-2020), NCRE Scholars has included 19 Scholars in eight cohorts, including ten postdoctoral Scholars and nine graduate student Scholars. Early career investigators, including junior faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and late-stage doctoral students in psychology, sociology, public health, anthropology, education, or related disciplines are eligible to apply.

Working to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the Youth Development program. Creating opportunities for learning, discussion, and a monthly newsletter.

Remote

I worked in the Youth Development and Indigenous programs around Tribal and Indigenous research. I did research, evaluation, and training and technical assistance to improve the wellbeing of children, youth, and their families. This included applying for grants and governments contracts most often in partnership with a Tribe or Indigenous community or organization. Supervised three direct reports and multiple junior staff in grant writing and budgeting. -Researcher on the Child Trends impact plan for Indigenous Children and Families, developing an Indigenous research agenda for the organization-Wrote multiple grants to NSF and one to NOAA all in partnership with Tribes or Indigenous organizations with detailed budgets-Providing subject matter expertise to NORC on how to conduct a national survey, National Survey of Early Care and Education, that reaches Tribes and is conducted equitably in regard to Indigenous respondents-Provide technical assistance (TA) on evaluation for Tribal Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grantees -Indigenous subject matter expert (SME) on ASPE Equity TA Center (ETAC), providing SME TA to HHS offices-Evaluator on NIJ funded Understanding School Climate for American Indian Youth: A CBPR Case-Study Approach

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Work with federally/state recognized Tribes of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native American Pacific Islanders (including American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands)• Provide guidance to grantees on how to conduct research and evaluation, outcome tracking, and and logic models.• Planning, designing, and performing evaluations through grantee visits to evaluate the impact of social, economic development, language education programs, and environmental projects within Native communities.• Analyze ANA data to write reports and papers. See Missing and Murdered Indigenous People: Tribally-Based Prevention Strategies below • Cross reader for Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) book, Human Services for Native American Communities, as well as a chapter co-author on three chapters• Provide trainings and presentations at yearly Grantee Meetings, ANA webinars, and grantee calls• Subject matter expert on working with Indigenous, minority, or vulnerable populations and provide guidance to other offices and leadership• Conduct grant review as a screener, panel manager (PM), internal reviewer, and review director• Grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation: Arctic Observing Network in 2020 and the Navigating the New Arctic in 2021.• Co-lead of the Missing and Murdered Native Americans (MMNA) Data Group for the ACF MMNA Framework, meeting with the Operation Lady Justice Data Group, compiling resources on MMNA, interpreting how the Framework policy can be implemented at ACF and analyzing progress• Represent ANA on the inter-agency work group for Executive Order 13995 Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery and on the ACF team for the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government • Represent ANA, ACF, and HHS on the writing of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) Arctic Research Plan (ARP) 2022-2026

• Completed dissertation and roadmap for the Ninilchik Village Tribe in 3 years that promotes longevity through self-determining actions leading to strong economic, social and environment returns.• Leveraged NSF and Mellon funding to research the impact of Alaska Native tribal self-determination, legislation, and case law on physical infrastructure, economic, social, and environmental challenges.• Collected data through 30 in-depth interviews and 4 focus groups to assess challenges and goals concerning physical infrastructure, healthcare, tribal heritage, governance, economic development, and education.• Synthesized interview and focus group data with desk research and policy analyses into themes and topics facing the community as well as solutions to address current and future obstacles to growth.• Coordinated with the Ninilchik leaders to develop a roadmap for triple-bottom line returns for a 20-year period.• Presented findings to Ninilchik leadership, community members, university faculty, and global academic practitioners in Alaska, Canada and Sweden.

Anchorage, Alaska

• Led senior-level management initiative on improving leadership, management, and diversity practices to bolster employee morale and productivity to achieve organizational goals.• Analyzed Federal Employee Viewpoint Surveys as well as led 5 focus groups with over 70% of BIA staff on resolving diversity and management issues adversely impacting workplace morale.• Presented data and recommendations from employees to BIA local and national leadership; spearheaded and implemented Diversity Committee focusing on communication with leadership and professional development.

Madison, Wi

Taught:-Survey of Sociology (Writing Intensive)-Ethnic Movements in the U.S. (Writing Intensive)-American Racial and Ethnic MinoritiesDesigned syllabi and lesson plans as well as taught 7 sociology classes and thesis writing to educate 200+ college students on diverse perspectives and research paper methodologies.Creatively presented sociology concepts appealing to all learning styles through interactive lectures, reading assignments, presentations, case studies and activities.

• Created and published 8-point relationship-based model to optimize scientific studies with mutually beneficial research in Indigenous communities in Northern Sustainabilities: Understanding and addressing change in the circumpolar world.• Leveraged research funding from the NSF and University of Wisconsin to launch a study on scientific advancement and relationship building focusing on local communications, community engagement, and institutional ethics.• Conducted 19 interviews with Inuit Greenlanders and facilitated 4 focus groups to compare them to the 15 NSF interviews; collected and synthesized interview and focus group data into a complex relationship-based model.• Awarded honorable mentions in 2011 and 2010 for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.• Presented research findings at 4 conferences in Canada, Alaska and New Mexico.

Washington Dc

• Counseled NCAI senior analysts on best practices for Indigenous Solid Waste Management and Ethical Youth Research by drafting strategic briefs and conducting oral presentations.• Authored strategic brief on optimizing solid waste management processes to improve Indigenous public health by researching 500+ tribes, interviewing public health officials on processes and legal codes, and writing 3 case studies.

• Advised and briefed NSF leadership on increasing Indigenous participation in science; devised strategies for cultivating sustainable research relationships between scientists and Alaska Native communities.• Collected and synthesized data from 15 elite interviews with Arctic Researchers, NSF Program Directors, and Indigenous organization leaders as well as literature reviews into a white paper on community sustainability.

Anchorage, Ak

• Audited internal processes for multi-million-dollar North Slope oil and gas engineering and design projects by conducting corrective action tracking, root-cause analysis, and follow-up to ensure ISO and corporate compliance.• Devised and modified engineering quality manual by coordinating with engineers, compliance departments, and management to identify and update corporate policies and improve productivity.• Led engineering mapping project to expand revenue generating capabilities by collaborating with a team of the 5 engineering departmental supervisors to outline critical flows ensuring on-time, on-target, and on-budget delivery.

Anchorage, Ak

• Edited and formatted proposals as well as policy and procedure manuals to support ASRC’s efforts to procure large-scale engineering and service contracts with BP and other oil conglomerates.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Indigenous Studies With An Emphasis In Indigenous Sustainability, 4.0/4,0

Dissertation title: Self-Determination, Sustainability, and Wellbeing in the Alaska Native Community of Ninilchik Research supported.

Masters Of Science, Sociology With An Emphasis In Methodologies, 3.92/4.00

Master's publication: Gordon, H. S. J. (2017). Building relationships in the Arctic: Indigenous communities and scientists. In G. Fondahl.

Ba, Race And Ethnic Studies, 3.95/4.00

Honors thesis title: Too Many Misconceptions: American Prejudice and Racism Toward Arabs and Muslims Fueled by 9/11

Intermediate Certificate, Arabic