Director - AS Programs, Associated Students of California State University, Chico

Sharleen Lowry Krater is the Director of AS Programs for Associated Students at California State University, Chico. She utilizes her extensive experience in higher education, human resources, and leadership development to enhance the student experience and promote community engagement. As a proud member of the Maidu, Washo, and Pit River Tribes, Sharleen’s heritage deeply informs her work. She is committed to advocating for underrepresented communities, ensuring that cultural perspectives are woven into the services and programs she oversees.

Cultural Demonstrator/ Park Ranger, National Park Service

Emily Dayhoff is a dedicated cultural advocate and member of the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, a non-federally recognized tribe in California. She also has strong ties to the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, both of which are among the seven tribes associated with Yosemite National Park. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage Management. Having grown up in Mariposa, California, a gateway community to Yosemite, she spent a decade serving as a Cultural Demonstrator and Interpretive Park Ranger. In this role, she passionately interprets her own identity, the history of her ancestors, and the vibrant culture that has often been overlooked and misrepresented in the narrative of the past.

Associate Director for Tribal Relations, California State University, Chico

Cole Morales grew up in Westwood, California, and is a Mountain Maidu from the Lassen and Plumas County area, as well as an enrolled member of the Susanville Indian Rancheria. He currently serves as the Associate Director for the Office of Tribal Relations at California State University, Chico.

A recent graduate of Chico State, Cole earned his Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management in 2020, specializing in Parks and Natural Resource Management, followed by a Master of Science in Wildland Management in 2022. Professionally, he has worked with Northern California Tribes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to document cultural resources affected by wildfires.

Previously, Cole served as the Tribal Liaison and Engagement Specialist with Chico State Enterprises, where he built relationships between the organization and local Tribes. He is also actively involved in his community as a board member of the Maidu Summit Consortium, which advocates for the protection of Mountain Maidu homelands.

Educator at Santa Lucia School

Sierra Rose Hughes lives in Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California, with her husband and their five children. Proud of her Yaqui and Apache heritage on her mother's side, Sierra is committed to honoring her roots. Three of her children also embody their Northern Cheyenne ancestry. Sierra hopes to raise awareness that Native American people and culture exist all around us.