Monica Nuvamsa

Monica is Omaw’wungwa (Water Cloud) Clan from the Village of Songoopavi and lives on the Hopi reservation in Northeastern Arizona. She was raised in a traditional farming family of multigenerational dry farmers, orchard keepers, food foragers and seed savers. She believes the value of observation and data collection of both the farming experience and seed preservation are a natural part of Hopi agricultural stewardship.

She received her B.A. in Psychology and American Indian Studies and Certificate in Graduate Research from the University of Arizona and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation in 2012.

Monica is the Executive Director of The Hopi Foundation. Her tenure with The Hopi Foundation includes serving as the KUYI Hopi Radio General Manager as well as Hopi Foundation Associate Director of Programs for the Natwani Coalition, Hopi Leadership Program, Hopi Substance Abuse Prevention Center and Capacity Building Program. Monica serves on several local, regional and national nonprofit boards including the Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona Alliance for Nonprofits, and First Nations Development Institute. Her prior service includes the Native American Agriculture Fund, Native Americans in Philanthropy, Arizona Grantmakers Forum, Native Public Media and the Hopi Education Endowment Fund.

Prior to working in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, Monica started her career in the social service field with the Hopi Domestic Violence Program and received a political appointment to serve on intergovernmental affairs for the Hopi Tribe’s Chairman and Tribal Council. She returned to Tucson to work with the University of Arizona in the field of student services and undergraduate retention and later transitioned to the Morris K. Udall Foundation to manage the Udall Native American Congressional Internship Program in Washington, DC.