Kelly Nalani Beym (Diné)

Kelly Nalani Beym (Diné) is a 2024-2028 Self Graduate Fellow and a 2023-2027 Sloan Indigenous Graduate Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. in Geography at The University of Kansas. She is of the Táchii’nii  (Red Running into the Water) clan of the Navajo Nation, with family from Tuba City, and Rock Point, Arizona. She received her bachelor’s degree in individualized studies with a minor in Agricultural Business Management and Distinction in University Honors from New Mexico State in 2022.

Her research focuses on Tribal self-determination ("638") in agriculture and commodity food programs serving Indian Country. She is interested in pathways to self-governance that enhance traditional food systems within Indian Country to combat food insecurity and chronic health conditions. Inspired by her upbringing in a food insecure household, Kelly has dedicated her career to advocating for food justice, equitable policy and Tribal autonomy in nutrition assistance. She sees self-governance and law/policy as a way of “carrying forward the prayers of our ancestors that negotiated our treaties” (David L. Gover (Pawnee/Choctaw)).  Kelly aspires to continue a career in tribal food policy research before pursuing professorship at a Tribal College and University (TCU) where she can support the mentorship of future Indigenous scholars in Tribal Agriculture.

Ultimately, she would like to see a stronger integration of Indigenous Knowledges into policy to strengthen tribal autonomy in Indian Country.  Above all, Kelly remains committed to enhancing nutrition assistance for Tribes by upholding the bilateral treaty negotiations of our ancestors.

Mentors: Christopher Brown, Ph.D. Professor Geography Environmental Studies and Joseph Brewer, Ph.D. Professor, Environmental Studies & Indigenous Studies.