Nievita Bueno Watts, Ph.D.
Nievita Bueno Watts, Director of Indian Natural Resources Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP) and Coordinator for the California State University CSU-LSAMP, Cal Poly Humboldt
Nievita Bueno Watts, Ph.D., is a geologist, science educator, and Director of the Indian Natural Resources, Science & Engineering Program (INRSEP) plus Diversity in STEM for the College of Natural Resources and Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. She conducts research on broadening the participation of populations traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Dr. Watts serves as the coordinator for CSU LSAMP @ Humboldt, on the Board of Directors of the Geoscience Alliance, a national organization dedicated to building pathways for Native American participation in the Earth and Environmental Sciences; the Steering Committee of the Ecological Forecasting Initiative (EFI), and as a Co-PI on the California Initiative for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), a postbac training program at Cal Poly Humboldt. Nievita is a former National Science and Technology Director of Academic Programs for the Center of Coastal Margins Observation & Prediction (STC-CMOP). Dr. Nievita Bueno Watts is a Hispanic first generation college graduate who credits the TRIO McNair Scholars program with her success in earning a PhD. Dr. Watts was thrilled to be able to give back to this program as a former McNair Scholars Program Director, and uses the methods and skills learned through TRIO in her current work.
Programs supporting local Native American tribes
and Indigenous students pursuing STEM fields
Western Washington University (WWU)- Coastal Almanac
Western Washington University (WWU) hosts multiple programs supporting local Native American tribes and Indigenous students pursuing STEM fields that will both benefit from and contribute to this Alliance. Through the NSF PAGE program, WWU offers a “4+2 bridge” program that creates opportunities for students graduating with a Bachelor’s of Native Environmental Sciences from Northwest Indian College to pursue a Master of Environmental Science at WWU. Through the NSF INCLUDES pilot Coastal Almanac project, WWU works with local Native American communities to create a framework for research projects centered around improving food and medicinal systems within Indigenous people. Western Washington University will benefit the Alliance and its partners by 1) sharing the CA framework for developing ethical partnerships with NA communities throughout the Alliance and beyond; 2) providing training and workshops in creating long-term relationships with NA communities; and 3) developing and disseminating curricula and training on mentoring strategies to support NA student success.