UNM-Taos Indigenous outreach coordinator tapped as community leadership fellow

Turquoise "Chenoa" Velarde, Indigenous outreach coordinator at the University of New Mexico-Taos, has been selected as a Class Four fellow in the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership.

The fellowship began in January 2026 and runs for 18 months, bringing together 80 leaders from across the United States, Tribal Nations and W.K. Kellogg Foundation priority places, including New Mexico, Michigan, Mississippi and New Orleans. Fellows participate in in-person and virtual gatherings focused on leadership development, relationship building and community transformation.

Velarde, who is from Taos Pueblo and the Jicarilla Apache Nation, works to support Indigenous students by connecting educational institutions with tribal communities and promoting educational access and equity. As UNM-Taos Indigenous outreach coordinator, she helps students navigate higher education while maintaining strong cultural connections.

An educator and advocate for Indigenous educational sovereignty, Velarde's work focuses on creating opportunities for tribal students and strengthening partnerships between schools and communities in Northern New Mexico. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Fort Lewis College and a master's degree in language, literacy and sociocultural studies from The University of New Mexico.

"I am excited to connect with other leaders like me who are seeking to deepen their understanding of themselves and their communities for the benefit of helping to shape a world where all of our children are honored, loved and respected, as it should be," Velarde said.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network supports leaders working to create equitable opportunities for children, families and communities through collaboration, innovation and shared learning.

For more information visit wkkf.org