About
Jaylee Rencountre, MPH, is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, representing the Hunkpapa Lakota on her maternal side and the Hunkpati Dakota on her paternal side. She joined the Center in September 2026 as a Program Coordinator with the Great Plains Hub in Rapid City, South Dakota. In her role, she supports the Center’s efforts to advance the health and well-being of Indigenous communities through culturally grounded, community-centered approaches.
Jaylee‘s professional background spans public health and laboratory research, community outreach and engagement, and health education. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Denver and a Master of Public Health degree in Indigenous Health from the University of North Dakota. Her upbringing and lived experiences within her Native community have shaped her commitment to improving health outcomes and addressing the systemic factors that influence Indigenous health. She plans to pursue doctoral degrees in the future, continuing her work at the intersection of public health, medicine, and Indigenous health.
Outside of work, Jaylee enjoys dancing at powwows, traveling throughout Indian Country, spending time outdoors, and staying connected to her community and homelands.
