President / Binational Community Advisor

Ana Gloria Rodriguez is the founder of Tipey Joa and has dedicated years to helping indigenous communties north and south of the border. Martha as her friends call her is a member of the Kumiai Nation from San Jose de la Zorra also known as Mat Perhaw. Martha has a B.A. in Native American Studies and is currently finishing up her Masters in Education Leadership. Her drive and passion has led her to fight for indigenous rights, and to improving binational relationships while empowering indigenous communities.

Administrative Support Specialist

Amanda is a SDSU alumni with a bachelors in Psychology. Originally from Tucson AZ with Yaqui roots, her and her family moved to San Diego when she was very young. She has been involved with the Kumeyaay community for several years, first as a student, hired as an intern and now currently as the college coordinator. She is very passionately about the well being of others and strives to help the community in anyway she can.

Director of Education

Dr. Stanley Rodriguez, member of the Kumeyaay Santa Ysabel Band of the Iipay Nation is an educator, language teacher, and tribal singer. He is an advocate for his community’s culture and traditions and serves in a number of advising and teaching roles in the San Diego and Native Kumeyaay communities. Stanley is a US Navy veteran, has an MA in Human Behavior worked as a Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor and has his PhD in Higher Education from UCSD.

Office Manager / Baja Region

Guadalupe’s artisan skills span over 27 years of creating traditional regalia, she is a member of the Kumiai Nation from San Jose de la Zorra. She has completed training in the Civil Protection program by Civil Protection of Ensenada in Natural Disasters and also holds a background in Tax Accounting. She is an active participant in the working groups of the Yumanos and Cochimi groups of B.C. as well as the National Electoral Institute for indigenous peoples.

Binational Environmental Educator

Meliza Le Alvarado has a BS in Biology and is a graduate student from Centro de Investigación Cientifica y Educación Superior de Ensenada where she obtained her master's degree in Marine ecology. She is passionate about the coastal ecosystems in the California region, particularly in coastal marine resources and human communities that are closely related to it. As part of her fellowship, Meliza led and facilitated science and knowledge-sharing to serve the coastal resilience needs of communities of the San Diego-Baja California Norte region, especially those who are part of Indigenous tribes. This project was developed with the support and mentorship of the California Sea Grant Extension Specialist and the Climate Science Alliance. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving and camping with friends.

Chairwoman

Queenette Pettiford wii ne'chuu'hii. Sycuan e'mat kopa'i. Cuero/Hyde nyapoom Watchena mokinyawaay. Nii'cus Bernice Hyde nyapoom Nii'tel Yvonne Adkins nyapoom Nii'tat Michael Pettiford. Ushin wa quinyulii heshein hawak wiet FuaLosa nyapoom Starphire.

I have been working for my Tribe since I was 15 years old, starting as a file clerk in the Sycuan Gaming Commission and I now serve as Chairwoman/Commissioner. Throughout my career, I have helped my Tribe to maintain a positive regulatory relationship with Tribal, Federal, State and local agencies. I have chaired multiple committees and collaborated on various impactful documents. Most recently I was honored with the opportunity to be a Board Member for the Tipey Joa Organization. The passion and commitment derived from Tipey Joa continues to inspire my goal of sustaining Tribal sovereignty and cultural integrity.

Treasurer

Lios enchim aniavu, my family comes from Sonora and Guanajuato in Mexico and San Diego. I am Yaqui and Guamare and I have spent my years growing up and living within the beautiful landscapes on both sides of the border. I have a AA in Kumeyaay Studies and an AS in Sustainable Agriculture, and I am currently working on my BA in Environmental Science. For my day to day, I am a licensed Realtor and Notary.

I have been lucky enough to be able to try on many hats in my lifetime which has given me incredible experiences in many different fields. I am passionate about fighting for the rights of indigenous communities and believe that Indigenous rights and sustainability are interconnected concepts that emphasize the preservation of indigenous cultures, lands, and resources while promoting environmental stewardship and equitable development for future generations.

Secretary

Veronica comes from the Kumiai Nation of San Jose de la Zorra, located in a very remote area of Baja California. She grew up surrounded by the natural mountains and landscapes and she has lived there her whole life. Veronica is a skilled artisan making traditional Kumiai basketry using native plant species such as juncus, willow, or pine needles which are grown and collected on the reservation.

She has participated in annual culural events in Baja which showcases her work, as well as countless events right here in San Diego. She is dedicated to preserving her tribes cultural heritage and teaching indigenous allies about Kumiai history.

Director of Cultural Affairs Baja

Traditional authority of San Jose de la Zorra and national Kumiai advisor of the CDI (Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples).

Wildlife Biologist

Conor is a Yaqui wildlife biologist and organizer located in San Diego CA and Tucson AZ. He has a bachelors degree in Native American Studies from CalPoly Humboldt and Masters of Science from University of Arizona in Natural Resources. He has worked in a broad range of fields along the interface of racial equity, environmental justice and ecology. His masters research involved mapping water sources for wildlife along the US Mexico border and managing data from dozens of remote cameras and field sites. He has served as a coordinator for native youth programs, a park ranger for San Diego county, Environmental assistant for the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, LANDBACK Organizer for NDN Collective, cultural gardener for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, and most recently as a wildlife biologist for the United States Geological Survey. He believes strongly in fighting for the rights of Indigenous people to caretake their own land through traditional practices and comprehensive scientific methodologies.