Biography
Marissa is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and began working with the Center for Indigenous Health in 2013. Marissa is of the Many Goats clan, born for Salt Water People. She worked as a family health coach on a diabetes prevention home visiting program for youth called Together on Diabetes. From 2015 to 2022, Marissa worked with the Family Spirit Program as the Administrative Manager in Chinle, AZ managing contracts for disseminating the evidence-based Family Spirit curriculum to other Indigenous communities in the U.S.
Beginning in 2022, Marissa’s role has shifted to being the Southwest Director of Operations where she works closely with an administration team to guide development and operations for the Center’s Southwest Hub sites and locations. The Southwest Hub within the Center for Indigenous Health consists of locations in Arizona (Chinle, Fort Defiance, Whiteriver, Pinetop, Tuba City) and New Mexico (Albuquerque, Shiprock, and Gallup).
Marissa received her MA in Healthcare Administration from University of Arizona Global Campus and her BA in Medical Anthropology degree from Creighton University.