Vanessa Begaye

Title: Research Program Coordinator

Location: Chinle, AZNavajo Nation

Biography

Vanessa Begaye (Diné) is from Lukachukai, Arizona and she is born for Tachiinii Nish’i (Red Running into the Water Clan), Naakaai Bashishchiin (Mexican), Ma’ii Deeshghiizhinii Dashichei (Coyote Pass) and Naakaai Dashina’i (Mexican). She joined the Center for Indigenous Health in July of 2021 as a Research Program Assistant/Team Lead for Project SafeSchools. Vanessa now serves as a Research Program Coordinator for Project SafeSchools/Connection Is Medicine. She works closely with schools on the Navajo Nation to help support teachers/staff and students return to in-person learning safely with the implementation of pool testing.

Vanessa received her bachelors in Public Health in December of 2021. She is a mother to two wonderful boys Khylen and Khyson Begaye.