Meet the Labriola team

Talia Porras

’A:ñi ’añ hab ce:gig Talia Porras, ’añ ha-ñe’okĭ Tohono O’odham Ha-ñe’okĭ.

Hello! My name is Talia Porras, and I am of the Tohono O’odham Nation on my mother’s side and Hispanic on my father’s. I grew up in Chandler, Arizona, with a strong emphasis on my Hispanic roots throughout my childhood. I am a member of ASU in Barrett, The Honors College, majoring in Business Law, with hopes of attending law school and eventually pursuing a career in corporate law. I joined the Labriola Center to learn more about my Indigenous heritage and the Indigenous community at ASU, as well as to meet other Indigenous students on campus. Since working here, I have been exposed to the multitude of events hosted by Labriola and have gained a deeper understanding of what the Indigenous community is like. I am so excited and honored to be a part of this team!

Deshayne Curley

Ya’át’ééh. Shí éí Deshayne Curley yinishyé. Tábąąha nishłį́ dóó Tódíchi’íi’nii báshíshchíín. Bilagáana dashicheii dóó Naneesht’ézhí Táchii’nii dashinálí. Shí éí T’iis Nídeeshgizh dę́ę́’ naashá. K’ad éí Hoozdoh di shighan. Information Technology baa ííníshta’. 

Hello, I am Deshayne Curley. I am Water’s Edge Clan, and born for Bitter Water Clan. My maternal grandfather is white and my paternal grandfather is Zuni-streaked Red Running Into Water Clan. I’m Navajo and from a small town in New Mexico called Newcomb. I am currently majoring in Information Technology, with a focus in Networking. I hope to work towards getting cybersecurity, networking, and various IT certifications so I can eventually work at or own a cybersecurity or networking firm that would lend its support to tribal nations. I first learned about Labriola in high school through the Access ASU INSPIRE program, and ever since then I found Labriola to be a special space for Indigenous students. The community it supports and the spaces it provides create a home away from home, and I wanted to contribute to this space for other students. Labriola was also a space that enforces Indigenous data sovereignty, and that is a practice I value. Labriola also supports one of my biggest hobbies, playing and creating music. Ahéheeʼ.

Colton Jim

Ya'at'ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é. Shí éí Colton Jim yinishyé. Áshįįhí nishłį́ Naasht’ezhí Tábąąha bashishchiin Tódích’ii’nii éí dashicheii Kinyaa’áanii éí dashinalí. Shí éí Tό Nehelįįh iyisíí naashá ndi Hoozdoodi dashighan k’ad. Computer Science éí baa ííniíshta’.

Hello everyone my name is Colton Jim. I am of the Salt People clan, born for the Zuni Edgewater clan, my maternal grandfather is of the Bitter Water clan, and my paternal grandfather is of the Towering House clan. I am from the Navajo tribe and reside near Tonalea, Arizona. I am a junior, majoring in Computer Science. I want to attain my bachelors, gain experience in the tech-industry before coming back for my masters and choosing a field to specialize in. My ultimate goal is to help enhance software features in my community and surrounding communities and possibly begin teaching younger generations and sharing my experiences. I chose to work at Labriola because I wanted to build upon my traditional and cultural knowledge. I wanted a deeper dive into understanding not just my culture but other cultures whether it be through Labriola events, the books they provide, or connecting with other individuals. I want to explore the correlation between various cultures and generally get a grasp on the similarities and differences Indigenous cultures face. Nevertheless, I am excited to be a part of Labriola and look forward to contributing to the culture Labriola has built. A fun fact about me is that I love the outdoors and strive to be active whether it be through hiking, biking, or running. Ahxé’hee.

Myacedes Miller

Yá’ át’ééh! Shí éí Myacedes Miller yinishyé. Kinłichíí’níí nishłį́, Tódich'ii'nii báshíshchíín, 'Áshįįhi dashicheiii, Naakai Dine’é dashinálí. Hello! My name is Myacedes Miller I am Redhouse clan born for the Bitterwater Clan. My maternal grandfather is from the Salt people, and my paternal grandfather is from the Mexican clan. I grew up in Lechee, Arizona and during high school moved to Gilbert, Az. I am a Junior here at ASU majoring in Organizational leadership with an emphasis in project management. I joined the Labriola center because I did a fellowship with the Community Driven Archives here at ASU and was introduced to Labriola. I immediately resonated with the initiative of Labriola and enjoyed learning about indigenous librarianship and archival practices. I’m also passionate about working within the indigenous community. A fun fact about me is that I love karaoke. 

Falcon Reed

Ya'at'ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é. Shí éí Falcon Tas Reed yinishyé. Kinłichíí’níí nishłį́ Shoshone bashishchiin Tséníjikiní éí dashicheii Akimel O’odham éí dashinalí. Hello everyone! My name is Falcon Tas Reed. I am Red House clan, born for Shoshone, my maternal grandfather is of the Honey Combed Rock People clan and and my paternal grandfather is Gila River O'odham. I am majoring in Psychology. I want to pursue research to understand how to improve indigenous health and lives. Specifically, to shift disparate mental health outcomes. 

Isabell Rodriguez

Yá’ át’ééh! Shí éí Isabell Rodriguez yinishyé. ‘Ashįįhíí nishłi, Naakai Dine’é báshíshchíín, Tł’iziłání dashicheii, Naakai Dine’é dashinálí. Apache Junction déé’ naashá. Ákótéego Diné asdzáán nishłí

Hello! My name is Isabell Rodriguez! I am from the Salt people clan born for the Mexican clan, my maternal grandfather is from the Many Goats clan, and my paternal grandfather is from the Mexican clan. I am a part of the Navajo Nation, but grew up in Apache Junction, Arizona. I am studying Biological Sciences, focusing on genetics and cell biology, and minoring in American Indian Studies. I joined Labriola to feel more connected to the indigenous community here at ASU and I am so glad I get to help with that!

Madison Billy

Nu Humi’in’mana yan hopi mastiwa niikyanu Madison Billy yan pahan matsiwa. Nu Paaqapwungwu. Nu Munkapi epkita. Nu Arizona State University tutu qualawuu.

Yá’ át’ééh shíke doo shí dinee. Shí éí Madison Billy yinishyé. Kitsani Looki dinee nishłį́. Tábąąha bashishinchiin, Tsii’naajínii ei da shicheii Tódich’ii’nii ei da shinali. Shi ei Tó Naneezdizí de naashá. Shí éí Arizona State University baa ííníshta’. 

Hi! My name is Madison Billy and I come from the Hopi and Navajo tribes of Northern Arizona. My hopi name, Humi’inmana, refers to when you are grinding corn as corn is a way of life for Hopi. I am Bamboo clan born for the Water’s Edge clan. My maternal grandfather is of the Black Streak Wood clan and my paternal grandfather is of the Bitterwater clan. I come from the Lower village of Munkapi and Tuba City, Arizona. I am in my 4th year here at Arizona State University studying Clinical Exercise Science with aspirations of returning home to help my community. I joined Labriola because I wanted to explore more of the resources available to students while also helping others navigate a large university while building more connections. A fun fact about me is that I love to weave my traditional baskets, drive through sedona and go to concerts! I look forward to seeing you all when you come to Labriola! Askwali! Ahé’hee’! Thank you!

Jalen James

Yaʼátʼééh ánołtso! Shí éí Jalen James yinishyé. Honágháahnii nishłį́ Dibé Łizhiní báshíshchíín Kiyaa’áanii dashicheii Tsi’naajínii dashinálí. Łichíí’ Deez’áhíí dę́ę́’ naashá doo akoo’ee shighan. Computer Systems Engineering biníí’ye ííníshta’ k’ad t’áá nááhai. Ahé’hee’!

Hello everyone! My name is Jalen, I am One Who Walks Around born for Black Sheep. My maternal grandpa is Towering House and my paternal grandfather is Black Streak Wood People. I am Navajo and originally from Sanders, Arizona and I spent my entire life on the Navajo reservation until I came to ASU for school. Currently, I am in my third-year studying Computer Systems Engineering. With my degree, I hope to go more into a specialized field of building and understanding how different hardware parts in a system work together on a software level to make a machine run with my main goal being to become a Computer Hardware Engineer. 

All throughout my college life, I have been heavily involved in the Indigenous community at ASU via clubs and socializing, but I decided to join Labriola because I felt that the experience would enhance my ability to be more involved in the community. I started frequenting the Labriola space since I was a freshman, and it’s really aided me in finding a place on campus that feels like home. The space has introduced me to tons of different people, and I am extremely thankful for how much it’s given me, so how better to repay it than by working in it! A fun fact about me is that I play pickleball and volleyball, and I have a knife collection (it’s a lot less scary than it sounds). :)

Dea Truong

Ya’át’ééh! Shí éí Dea Truong yinishyé. Tó aheedlíínii nishłį́ dóó Biʼednam Dineʼé bizaad báshíshchíín. Naaneesht’ ézhí dashicheii. Biʼednam Dineʼé bizaad dashinálí. Tsé Siʼánídééʼ naashá, ákondi Hooz’doo di sétsą́. Mechanical Engineering baa ííniíshta’. Ahéhee’!

Hello! My name is Dea Truong. I am Water Flows Together clan born for Vietnamese. My maternal grandfather is Pueblo Zuni and my paternal grandfather is Vietnamese. I am from Lupton Arizona but I grew up in Phoenix. I am currently in my Junior year studying Mechanical Engineering. With my degree I am wanting to specialize in structural analysis or design with either aircrafts, automotives, or with defense. I decided to join Labriola because I wanted to give back to the place that helped me make friends and connections to other natives here at ASU. I also love how this is a safe space and gives amazing support for indigenous students and I wanted to be a part of that. One fun fact about me is that I love music so I LOVE going to concerts and music festivals then buying at least one t-shirt for memories. Ahéhee’!

Kaitlyn Yazzie

Yá’át’ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é. Shí éí Kaitlyn Yazzie yinishyé. Nakai Diné’é nishłį́, Tódích’íi’nii éí bashishchíín, Tódích’íi’nii éí dashicheii, Naaneesht’ézhí Táchii’nii éí dashinalí. Akót’éego éí Diné asdzání nishłį́. Tsé Bitʼaʼí dee’ iyisíí naasha ndi k’ad éí Hooz’doo di kééhasht’í. Fashion Merchandising ba innishta dóó ASU Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising baa nináshnish. 

Hello my name is Kaitlyn Yazzie I am the Mexican clan born for the Bitter Water clan, my Maternal grandfather is of the Bitter Water clan and my Paternal grandfather is of the Charcoal Streaked Red Running Into The Water clan. I am from Shiprock, New Mexico but I live here in the Phoenix Valley. I am a Fashion Merchandising student at ASU’s Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising. I love fashion and would love to be a buyer or own a business. I currently sell traditional Diné clothing under the brand name Miss Kay & Co. I was introduced to the Labriola Center by my friends when I transferred from MCC after I got my Associates in Arts with an emphasis in fashion design. I like music, basketball, kbbq and pasta. I also like to make new friends and learn about various cultures, especially their traditional clothing.