Avery Tilley

Avery Tilley (he/him) is currently pursuing a doctorate of veterinary medicine at the University of Georgia with a focus on conservation medicine. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a proud indigenous scientist passionate about conservation through the lens of wildlife disease and indigenous knowledge. His work focuses on collaborative, reciprocal wildlife health research with tribal nations. In 2023, Tilley was named an inaugural Braveheart Fellow by the Center for Native American Youth, a Darwin 200 Leader, and a National Geographic Young Explorer. Tilley has championed tribal wildlife issues on the national and international stages serving as a panel moderator during the 2023 White House Tribal Youth Forum and as a delegate at the United Nations COP15 in Montreal. Tilley hopes to one day serve as a tribal wildlife veterinarian, assisting tribes with wildlife disease monitoring and mitigation across their historic lands.