
Carly Griffith Hotvedt
J.D., M.P.A.
Executive Director
(479) 575-6572
hotvedt@uark.edu
Cherokee Nation

Brenton Jones

Kelli Case

Steven Shedd

John VanPool
Associate Director of Policy, Research, and Tribal Governance
jvanpool@uark.edu
jvanpool@uark.edu

Mallory Moore

Mary Belle Zook

Will Seeley
Tribal Enterprise Manager
wseeley@uark.edu
wseeley@uark.edu

KAYCEE CAPTAIN

Satara Fountain
Tribal Enterprise Specialist
sataraf@uark.edu
sataraf@uark.edu

Jamie Black

Joseph Damaso

Nikki Young

Liz Miller

Elena Degago
Events and Travel Coordinator
edegago@uark.edu
edegago@uark.edu

Tishina Mindemann
Communications Manager & Program Specialist
tishm@uark.edu
tishm@uark.edu

Claire Allison
Strategic Programs Manager
cja008@uark.edu

Whitney Nelson
Youth Programs Coordinator
wn004@uark.edu
The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) focuses on putting tribal sovereignty in food sovereignty, promoting tribally driven solutions to revitalize and advance traditional food systems and diversified economic development throughout Indian Country. IFAI provides Tribal governments, producers, and food businesses with educational resources, policy research, and strategic legal analysis as a foundation for building robust food economies.