Biography
Tracey Lee is a member of the Navajo Nation. She is a wife and a mother to her four beautiful children. She is Naaneesht’ézhi Táchii’nii (The Charcoal Streaked Division of the Red Running into the Water), born for Honágháanii (One Who Walks Around), her maternal grandfather is Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water), and her paternal grandfather is Tł’ááshchí’i (Red Bottom).
Tracey joined the Center for Indigenous Health in August of 2023 as a Research Associate in Fort Defiance, Arizona. She’s originally from Sanders, AZ but has recently moved from Albuquerque NM where she did reside for the past 7 years. Tracey moved to Albuquerque with her family to pursue graduate school at the University of New Mexico. She obtained her Master of Science degree with a major in Chemistry in December 2020. Since the pandemic, she has been a full-time teacher homeschooling her children and a full-time mother. Currently, as a Research Associate, Tracey aids in coordination and evaluation of behavioral health programs including Asdzáán Be’eena’ (Female Pathways) and Azhe’é Bidziil (Strong Fathers) program. Recently, the center has extended the Strong Fathers program to Fort Defiance, AZ where they are working diligently on recruitment and enrollment.
Promoting overall wellness and health among Indigenous populations has always been a lifelong passion for Tracey and as a Research Associate, it will not only allow her to achieve her professional goals, but will aid in enhancing quality research aimed to improve health and reduce health disparities among Indigenous communities. In Tracey’s free time she enjoys hiking/walking with her family, traveling, teaching her children new skills, rug weaving, running/working out with her oldest daughter, baking homemade goodies, snuggling with her children, participating in Fantasy Football with her husband & friends, and reading. An interesting fact about Tracey is that she was a collegiate athlete for cross country during her undergraduate at Fort Lewis College.