Native Faculty and Staff

Meet some of the Native faculty and staff who help shape the UC Santa Cruz community. Across campus, these educators, scholars, and professionals are creating space for Indigenous knowledge, connection, and growth. Explore their profiles, celebrate their accomplishments, and learn more about the many ways they contribute to teaching, research, and community building.

Native faculty

John Brown Childs

Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology

E-mail: jbchilds@ucsc.edu
Tribal Affiliation: Massachuset Tribe of Indians at Ponkapoag
Degrees:

M.A., Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo
B.A., University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Guillermo Delgado-P.

Professor Emeritus, Department of Anthropology

E-mail: guiller@ucsc.edu

Degrees:

Ph.D. Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin.
B.A. Religious Studies (Andean Cultures), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
B.A. Philosophy (Ethnology concentration), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Jean E. Fox Tree

Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychology

E-mail: foxtree@ucsc.edu

Degrees:

Ph.D., Stanford University
M.Sc,. University of Edinburgh
B.A., Harvard University

Caitlin Keliiaa

Assistant Professor, Department of History

E-mail: ckeliiaa@ucsc.edu
Tribal Affiliations: Yerington Paiute and Washoe

Degrees:

Ph.D. Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley
M.A. Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley
M.A. American Indian Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
B.A. Ethnic Studies & Native American Studies, University of California, Berkeley

Amy Joy Lonetree

Professor, Department of History

Tribal Affiliation: Enrolled Citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation

Degrees:

Ph.D. Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley
M.A. Social Sciences, University of Chicago
M.A. History, Indiana University
B.A. History, University of Minnesota

Renya Ramirez

Professor, Department of Anthropology

E-mail: renya@ucsc.edu
Tribal Affiliation: Enrolled Member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and descendant of the White Earth Ojibwe

Degrees:

Ph.D. Education, Stanford University
M.A. Anthropology, Stanford University
B.A. Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley

Tsim D. Schneider

Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology

E-mail: tdschnei@ucsc.edu
Tribal Affiliation: Enrolled Citizen of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Degrees:

Ph.D., Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley
M.A., Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin
B.A., Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin

Judith Scott

Professor Emerita, Department of Education

E-mail: jascott@ucsc.edu
Tribal Affiliation: Enrolled Member of the Cherokee Nation

Degrees:

Ph.D. Educational Psychology, University of Illinois
M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction. Education Department, University of California, Davis.
B.A. in American Studies, University of California, Davis. 1977. Emphasis in American Education.

Native staff

Brenna Candelaria (she/her)

Tribal Affiliation: Karuk, Choctaw

Brenna is a UCSC alum, first-generation college graduate, and proud member of the Karuk Tribe. With nearly two decades of service at UCSC, including roles in academic advising and undergraduate research coordination, Brenna brings deep experience supporting student success. Her background as a transfer student and former intern at UCSC’s Ethnic Resource Center and Women’s Center informs her student-centered, equity-focused approach. She is committed to partnering with students to identify challenges and build accessible, realistic solutions that foster retention and achievement.

Frank Dang (he/him)

Tribal Affiliation: Doyon Corporation/Tanana Chiefs Region

Frank serves as the Clinical IT Lead for Student Health Services, where he oversees all aspects of information technology. He came to UCSC from Sonoma in 2001 and has been here ever since. Prior to joining Student Health, he worked in the University Library, where he contributed to notable projects such as the Grateful Dead Archive Online. More recently, Frank has played a key role in implementing campus-wide COVID systems, including testing, vaccination, and compliance efforts.

Rebecca Hernandez (she/her)

Tribal Affiliations: Mescalero, Warm Springs Apache

Rebecca Hernandez, Ph.D., is the Community Archivist at the UCSC Library. She collaborates with local communities to preserve and share the histories of Santa Cruz County through oral histories, outreach, and post-custodial models. She holds an MA in American Indian Studies from UCLA and a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of New Mexico. Rebecca also serves on the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History board and the Santa Cruz County Latino Affairs Commission.

Autumn Johnson (she/her)

Tribal Affiliation: Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge Reservation

Autumn is Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation and honors the legacy of her grandparents, Ann Sherman and Billy Siers. A UCSC alum, she now serves as Director of the African American Resource & Cultural Center (AARCC). Autumn is passionate about community-building, learning from others, spending time outdoors, and watching Star Trek.

Lydia Iyeczohua Zendejas

Tribal Affiliation: Purépecha, Tarahumara

Lydia is a higher education professional with over 26 years of experience supporting first-generation and educationally disadvantaged students. She currently serves as Project Director for HSI Initiatives, leading federally funded grant programs. A lifelong student of native ceremonial traditions, she is Purépecha and Tarahumara, a member of Calpulli Tonalehqueh, and has practiced danza azteca for over two decades. Lydia holds degrees from UC San Diego and Teachers College and is pursuing her Ed.D. at UC Davis.

Maya Woolfe (she/her)

Tribal Affiliation: Yaqui

Maya is the Assistant Director of Student Achievement in the Humanities Division at UC Santa Cruz. She advises divisional programs and supports student recruitment and retention across the division. She is of Yaqui descent, with family roots in the Sonoran Desert, and is part of a continued effort to reclaim her cultural heritage. She enjoys hiking, caring for plants, and building supportive, student-centered partnerships rooted in empathy and advocacy.

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