Biography
Francene is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. She joined the Center for Indigenous Health in December of 2003 and is currently an Assistant Scientist and NARCH Director in Whiteriver, AZ.
For 18 years her work has focused on supporting and guiding White Mountain Apache tribal members to further their education in the health and sciences fields and overseeing behavioral health programs which include youth entrepreneurship, suicide prevention, and STI prevention just to name a few. She is one of the primary liaisons between Johns Hopkins, the Indian Health Service and the White Mountain Apache Tribe and is a certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer (ASIST).
Francene understands the need for qualified tribal members to carry out health research programs in her community which can be accomplished by supporting community members and the youth to further their education. It is with this insight that she strives to promote health research in Native communities through community awareness, education and involvement.
Francene earned her Doctorate of Behavioral Health degree from Arizona State University. She received her Master of Science degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University and has a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in Business Administration with an emphasis in Enterprise in Society