Erin Parker
J.D., LL.M.
Executive Director
(479) 575-6572
esparker@uark.edu
Carly Griffith Hotvedt
J.D., M.P.A.
Associate Executive Director
(479) 575-6572
hotvedt@uark.edu
Cherokee Nation
Brenton Jones
Budget Director
(479) 575-3227
baj005@uark.edu
Steven Shedd
J.D.
Director of Tribal Enterprise
sshedd@uark.edu
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Kristiana Coutu
J.D., CPA, MST
Director of Policy, Research and Governance
kcoutu@uark.edu
Kelli Case
J.D.
Sr. Staff Attorney
kellic@uark.edu
Chickasaw Nation
John VanPool
Associate Director of Policy and Governance
jvanpool@uark.edu
Mary Belle Zook
Communications Director
(479) 575-5128
mzook@uark.edu
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Summer Rae Wilkie
Next Generation Program Manager
(479) 575-3829
swilkie@uark.edu
Cherokee Nation
Will Seeley
Tribal Enterprise Manager
wseeley@uark.edu
Meagen Baldy
Food Safety Specialist
mbaldy@uark.edu
Hupa from Hoopa Valley
KAYCEE CAPTAIN
Tribal Enterprise Specialist
kcapita@uark.edu
Eastern Shawnee
Mallory Moore
J.D.
Staff Attorney
mm244@uark.edu
Jamie Black
Policy Assistant
jlb087@uark.edu
Cherokee Nation
Joseph Damaso
Policy Liaison
(479) 575-7513
jdamaso@uark.edu
Cindy J. Ryan
Executive Assistant
(479) 575-5606
cjr023@uark.edu
Nikki Young
Office Administrator
(479) 575-5666
any007@uark.edu
Liz Miller
Program Operations Manager
(479) 575-5867
edm003@uark.edu
Elena Degago
Events and Travel Coordinator
edegago@uark.edu
Tishina Mindemann
Communications Manager & Program Specialist
tishm@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.