Colleen grew up wandering the washes, mesas, and sandstones in Shą́ą́ʼtóhí, a small community located on the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona. She is Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House) born for Lók’aa’ Dine’é (Reed People). Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Tó’aheedlíinii (Water Flows Together) and her paternal grandfather’s clan is Tł’izi’łání (Manygoats). She is from the communities of Shonto and Blue Gap, Arizona, and this is how she identifies herself as a Diné (Navajo) woman. Colleen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences in 2008 and a Professional Master’s in Science in Climate Science & Solutions in 2012, both from Northern Arizona University. Colleen is an advocate and raft guide on the San Juan River and Green River, a facilitator, a researcher, an educator with Canyonlands Field Institute, and a board member with the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival. A nomad and desert girl at heart, Colleen is most content outside, whether it’s hiking, trail running, rowing a boat, sleeping in her Prius, or admiring the diversity of insects, birds, and wildflowers in her backyard.