Shaina A. Nez is Táchii’nii born for Áshįįhi. She is a first-generation professional earning her Ph.D. in Justice Studies at Arizona State University.

 

    She earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

     With over eight years of experience in early childhood education and higher education, she served as a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing and English at Diné College. Shaina is committed to advancing social change through Creative Nonfiction (CNF), Qualitative research and Critical Indigenous methodologies.

     She founded the Diné Artisans & Authors Capacity Building Institute (DAACBI) Fellowship Program in 2023, which supports emerging Indigenous artists in Creative Writing, Navajo Silversmithing, and Navajo Weaving. 

     Her work has been published in several notable anthologies and journals like the Poetry Magazine, Michigan University Press, and Palgrave MacMillan, reflecting her commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices and promoting equity and inclusivity.

 

Shaina served on the Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) Faculty Advisory Council sponsored by the American Indian College Fund (The College Fund), and currently serves the Arizona Humanities (AH) Board of Directors.