Wondering what it's like to live and work in Washington, D.C.? Want to know about a day in the life of a Udall Intern? Ask one of our
alumni mentors. Salisha, Erin, Andrea, Roxanne, Diana, and Mellor are happy to share their experiences as Udall Interns with you.
We encourage you to contact them: their bios and information are below.
Salisha Old Bull
A Salish and Crow, I was born and raised in Montana and became a Udall Intern in 2007. After completing a master's degree in
Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on the history of Indian Education and Curriculum & Instruction, I found myself wanting to pursue
a second master's and possibly law school. The internship allowed me to better observe the opportunities and possibilities that were
available to me through the more formal professions of Native people. The internship was a major prelude to the academic work I had
ahead of me, but it showed me that there are no boundaries to the extent that one can strive to improve issues in Indian Country. It
gave me a better sense of how to hold myself in a more professional manner as well as how to research the deep issues in Indian Country.
I went on to complete a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Montana in 2009 and started as Program
Coordinator for American Indian Student Services at the same school. Working in this position, I am basically a liaison and advocate for
the American Indian student body. Looking back at the Udall Internship helps me to remember how important it is to continue to encourage
and support further generations of Native people to succeed academically and professionally in their daily lives. Email me at
powowgrrl@yahoo.com.
Erin Dunnagan Oliver
I grew up in Miami County, Indiana and am an enrolled member of the Miami Nation of Indiana. I received a Bachelor of Arts in American
Studies from the University of Notre Dame, where I was a 2004 Udall Congressional Intern in Rep. Tom Udall's Washington, DC office.
Currently I am a 3L at Michigan State University College of Law specializing in Indigenous Law and Policy. I am
Vice-President of the Native
American Law Student Association and a student representative for the Michigan State Bar Association Indian Law Section. I am a member
of my tribal language committee where I am active in language revitalization efforts. I also sit on our tribal scholarship committee.
Please feel free to contact me with questions concerning the internship program. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be
involved with the Udall Foundation and love to share my experience with others. I can be reached at
erin.n.oliver@gmail.com.
Andrea Sanders
Andrea Akalleq Sanders, Yupik, began working for First Alaskans Institute in the role of Development Assistant in August 2010.
In this position her main duties are to assist the Development Director and other FAI Staff in conducting research to identify
potential contributors to the organization's fund, providing logistical support for the Alaska Native Policy Center's events, and
assisting with all grant and fundraising aspects.
Ms. Sanders most recent previous employment was for her tribe, The Native Village of Kwinhagak, working as a Land Manager.
Andrea graduated from Georgetown University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Government. Immediately following her graduation
she participated in the Udall Congressional Internship and was placed in the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, at that time,
vice-chaired by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. She attributes much of her success in recent years to the positive and informative
experience she had as a Udall Intern.
Andrea was born and raised in Bethel, Alaska and is currently enrolled as a Tribal Member with the Orutsararmuit Native Council
and the Native Village of Kwinhagak. She is also a shareholder with Qanirtuuq Corporation, out of the Calista Region. She can be
contacted at: Akalleq@gmail.com to answer any questions regarding the
Udall Congressional Internship Program.
Roxanne Thomas
Roxanne (Dine'/Numa) is a tribal member of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. She was raised in Salt Lake City, UT and moved to the
Navajo Nation upon entering her freshman year of high school. She earned a BA in Sociology/Human Services from Fort Lewis College,
a master's in Social Work (MSW) from Arizona State University, and an MS in Public Policy and Management (MSPPM) from Carnegie
Mellon University. She is a licensed MSW (LMSW) in the state of Arizona and is currently working at Kayenta Health Center Counseling
Services in Kayenta (AZ) on the Navajo Nation. She provides outpatient mental health services primarily to Dine' adults, and has
prior experience working with Dine' children, adolescents, and parents. Her maternal relatives are from the Kayenta (AZ) area and
her paternal relatives are from the Stillwater (NV) area.
Roxanne was a Native American Congressional Intern during the summer of 2007 and worked in the office of Congressman Mark Udall
(D-CO). She would like to encourage those who:
- desire to create long lasting friendships with peers from various tribal communities;
- seek to build their network of people/organizations working with indigenous people; and
- have the passion and desire to advocate for positive change within their area of interest
to apply for this wonderful experience. Roxanne can be reached at roxanne.thomas@ihs.gov.
Diana Webster
Diana Webster is an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe from Northern Minnesota. In 2001, she decided to go to
Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, CA, after a long career in business. It was an ambitious goal for a mature student, but she
now works as an attorney at the Tribal Law & Policy Institute in West Hollywood, CA, where she works with American Indian and Alaska
Native people, tribal justice systems, victims services providers, tribal service providers, and others involved in the
improvement of justice in Indian country.
As a 2007 Udall Intern in the White House Council on Environmental Quality legal department, she gained not only outstanding work
experience and tremendous confidence, but she also developed a network of friends and mentors of the best and the brightest people
in the country. She strongly encourages anyone, whether they're just starting out in college or going back to school after many
years, to apply to be an Intern. If you have any questions about the program, Diana would love to talk to you. Her email is:
law.webster@gmail.com.
Mellor Willie
Mellor C. Willie is the Executive Director of the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC). He directs the non-profit
organization's operations and programming, as well as publicly promotes and advances the American Indian, Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian housing policy agenda in Washington, D.C. and abroad.
Mellor is a member of the Navajo Nation, born and raised in Window Rock, Arizona. He was born into the Yei Dine' Tachii'nii clan and
born for the Tsenahabilnii clan. In 1998, he received his bachelor's degree in political science from Southern Utah University. As a
1998 Udall intern, Mellor worked for former Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ). In May 2009, he graduated from The George Washington
University's Graduate School of Political Management, being the first American Indian to graduate from the program.
Before NAIHC, Mellor served as director of development for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) headquartered in Washington,
D.C. As the chief fundraising executive, he directed the fundraising efforts for NCAI. Mellor served on the faculty advisory board for
the Harvard University Native American Program and as a former alumnus, he continues to serve on the advisory board for the Washington
Internships for Native Students at American University. He can be reached at
mwillie@NAIHC.NET.