About
Dr. Julie Smith-Yliniemi is an assistant professor and Director of Community Engagement at the Indigenous Trauma & Resilience Research Center, University of North Dakota. She is Ojibwe, from the White Earth Indian Reservation. Committed to improving Indigenous and underserved populations’ health, she has a background in health education, school counseling, grant management, and clinical mental health therapy. Julie weaved trauma therapy with Native American traditional healing, co-developed the first domestic cultural immersion event with the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), and managed an MSPI grant for the White Earth Nation. Collaborating with communities, institutions, and agencies, she focuses on community-engaged research to improve health outcomes. Julie is a board-certified counselor and school and professional clinical counselor with thirteen years of experience in K-12 public and tribal school systems. She holds a master’s in counseling from Minnesota State University – Moorhead, a Master of Public Health-American Indian Public Health certificate from North Dakota State University, and a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision. A 2015 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program fellow, Julie is passionate about preparing students to work with diverse backgrounds. She lives with her family in Detroit Lakes, MN, enjoying yoga, travel, outdoor activities, and sharing her culture and travel experiences with others.