Meet Our Alumni

Saimara Alejandro-Hernández, MS is Boricua-Arawak. She received her Master of Science in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Avian Evolution & Genetics. Her Master's project was "Speciation of a Caribbean Island Endemic Hummingbird, the Puerto Rican Mango (Anthracothorax aurulentus)." As a Puerto Rican scientist, she is especially interested in island endemism, speciation, and the conservation of native biodiversity. She is a recipient of the Mark Diamond Research Grant to support genome sequencing research. She conducted wholegenome and mitochondrial analyses to study speciation of the Puerto Rican Mango hummingbird (Anthracothorax aurulentus). She presented research at the American Ornithological Society (AOS) Annual Meeting (2025, Illinois) and also contributed to a manuscript for submission to the Journal of Evolutionary Biology of Oxford. Saimara plans to pursue a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, with a focus on genomics, biogeography, and coloration in birds. She also plans to gain her master bird bander permit to track birds at home, in Puerto Rico.

Halle Bryant, MS is Tuscarora Nation, Bear Clan. She received her Master of Science in Data Science. Her Master's project was "Building a logic for open databases and open ontologies." She previously graduated with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Africana Studies from Brown University in 2021. Halle is a member of the Black Alliance for Peace, and was a member of UB AISES. She helped high school and adult students prep for Regents and GED exams, co-founded Buffalo Black Study Circle, and maintained a 4.0 GPA her first two semesters. Halle plans to work in data analytics or education and become a freelance data reporter/journalist, using mathematics to help create a better world where possible.

Paige Carozzolo, MSW is Tuscarora Nation, Bear Clan. She graduated with a masters in social work. She is planning to open up a practice with a speciality in family & relationship therapy and EMDR with children.

John J Casali, PharmD, RPh is staff pharmacist at John R. Oishei Children's Hospital, which specializes in comprehensive pediatric medical care, including neonatal, perinatal and obstetrical services. Casali is an enrolled member of the Cayuga Nation (Heron Clan). He received his bachelor of arts in chemistry from the University at Buffalo. In his undergraduate career he was a member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). He later completed his doctor of pharmacy program, during which he attended a pharmacy practice experience in Napo, Ecuador, working with bringing healthcare to indigenous tribes of Ecuador, while learning aspects of Kichwa culture including use of medicinal plants, oral storytelling, songs and dance and artisan crafts.  Since graduating Casali has been working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, including immunization education and patient care. 

Michael Ciepluch, BS is Ho-Chunk, Bear Clan. He received his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. He has a strong interest in medicine, ophthalmology, and serving underserved communities. As a first generation college student, he combined academics, clinical experience, research, and community involvement while working toward a future career as a physician. Michael plans to continue strengthening his clinical and academic experience as he prepares for medical school. He hopes to pursue a career in medicine and eventually specialize in ophthalmology. 

Molly Dunfield received her MA in Indigenous Studies and her BA in Art History. She is a treaty partner and ally whose graduate research at UB combined Art History and Indigenous Studies by exploring Haudenosaunee collage art as a mode of visual sovereignty. One method within this work consisted of creating and placing her own collage work, which interrogates settler colonialism, in dialogue with Indigenous voices, disassembling colonial technologies and reassembling them for anti-colonial purposes. She continues to interrogate settler colonialism in her current position as an Assistant NAGPRA Coordinator at UB, supporting efforts toward repatriation.

Sharon Francis is Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan. She graduated with a masters of social work. She plans on helping her communities heal from personal, intergenerational and historical traumas.

Shanyce Gonzales, BA is Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Indigenous Studies. During her time as an undergrad, she completed meaningful research on the Kinzua Dam and its effects on the Seneca People, Seneca land claims west of the Genesee, and analyzing how legal regulatory frameworks like IGRA compromise tribal sovereignty. This research wasn't only for herself, but for her family, community, and most importantly, her Nation. She hopes to gain a background in Federal Indian Law, then take the tools she has been equipped with to lobby on behalf of the Seneca People. She received the 2025 Undergraduate Award for Indigenous Research and was on the Fall 2025 Dean’s List. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Indigenous Studies, with plans to go to law school afterwards.

Rodney C. Haring, PhD, MSW, is director of the Roswell Park Center for Indigenous Cancer Research, research faculty at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, Department of Cancer Prevention and Control and adjunct faculty at the Native American Research and Training Center, University of Arizona. An alumnus of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, he is also a past fellow at the National Congress of American Indians and Mayo Clinic. Haring (Beaver Clan) is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and resides on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation (NY). He holds a doctoral degree in social work with over 15 years of social work practice and is a former delegate on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, American Indian and Alaska Native, Health Research Advisory Council. He is also the lead delegate for the historic MoU between Roswell Park and Indian Health Services with the common mission of addressing health burdens in Indigenous communities. In 2017 he was awarded an Impact Award by the National Indian Health Board and in 2021 he received the National Federation of Just Communities Hero Award. His research interests intersect eliminating disparities and encouraging resiliencies within First Nations and Indigenous societies. 

Kamryn Hartranft, BS is from the Tonawanda Band of Senecas, Bear Clan. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. During her time at the UB, Kamryn held the position of AISES Secretary and UBISC President. She also completed an internship with the Department of Indigenous Studies HARK lab and an internship in Montana with the Buffalo Field Campaign.  Kamryn hopes to find a job locally within WNY and travel. 

Dana Hunt-Locklear, MFA is Lumbee. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Media Arts Production with a concentration in Video Game Design and Studies. Her MFA project was entitled "Who we are, what they see: exploring presentations of indigeneity in contemporary game design." As a game designer, she is dedicated to remedying the misrepresentations of Indigenous peoples in media through meaningful design and collaboration across tribal nations. Likewise, her work centers around southeastern American Indians and indigeneity in the Deep South. She received a Mozilla grant to fund inclusive game design (2024-25). Dana is currently pursuing her PhD in Media Study at UB.

Liliana Jamieson, BA is from the Cayuga Nation, Bear Clan. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in cognitive science with a minor in biology. Liliana was the UBISC Secretary and she has achieved over 100 hours of dental shadowing and 50 hours of volunteer work. She plans on attending McGill University in Montreal pursuing a Master degree in dental sciences. Liliana's ultimate goal is to become a dentist who is able to serve her community. 

Wren Jordan-West, BS, received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geoscience with a minor in Indigenous Studies. Wren is a mapmaker, nature enthusiast, and aspiring scientist. The accomplishments that Wren was most proud of in his time at UB were his internship with USGS and his internship with Dr. Hope Russell at the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. Wren plans to pursue a master's degree in Natural Resource Management, and hopefully, from there, do research on wildlife management.

Eliese Maybee, BS is from the Seneca Nation, and graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in Indigenous studies. She is continuing her education by attending graduate school to be an physician assistant.

Delaney McNulty, MA is Cherokee and graduated with a masters degree in philosophy. She is continuing her education and pursuing a PhD in Indigenous Studies at UB.

Dakota Mettler, BA is Tuscarora, and graduated with a degree in sociology and a minor in Indigenous studies. She is continuing her education by attending graduate school for a masters of social work degree at UB.

Sierra Morton, BS is Tuscarora Nation, Bear Clan and graduated with a degree in pharmacology and toxicology. She is continuing her education by attending graduate school for a masters of science in pharmacology and toxicology at UB.

Lindsey Parker, MPH is Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan. She graduated with a masters of public health degree. She plans on entering the workforce.

Paige Peoples, BA is St. Regis Mohawk, Turtle Clan. She received her Bachelor of Arts as a double major in Psychology and Criminology with a minor in Law. She was a Bassline Captain in the Marching Band and Vice President of the Taekwondo club. Paige plans to go to graduate school. 

Rouge Rodriguez is Tiano and graduated with a BS in Public Health and a minor in Indigenous Studies from UB. They continued their education at UB by graduating with a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in environmental health. Their Master's project was entitled "Indoor Environmental Exposures and Their Influence on Sleep and Cognitive Function." During their time at UB, they were a SPHHP Dean’s Scholar, a recipient of the Dr. Michael F Noe’s Diversity Scholarship, and Vice-President of UB AISES. Rouge plans to work as a research associate focused on Indigenous environmental health.

Marilyn Schindler was an activist (“in my younger days”) at the Cattaraugus territory of the Seneca Nation and assisted the late Barry White (Seneca Nation) in the recruitment of Six Nations students to attend the University at Buffalo for Native American studies.  She taught American studies courses at UB for over three years, most notably her “Savage Women” course, which explored contemporary issues that Indigenous women face.  Along with Barry White, she started a school on Cattaraugus territory in the mid-1970s and operated it for close to four years.  She taught Seneca Language for seven years within the Seneca Nation Education Department.  

Bernadette M. Scott, MA (American Studies) is currently the assistant at the Seneca Nation of Indians Higher Education Program, a Seneca-Iroquois National Museum Board of Trustees member, and a participant in the Artist Residency Program at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum. Scott (Deer Clan) is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation and resides on the Cattaraugus Territory, well-known in the community for teaching, sharing, and making traditional Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls. In addition, she creates traditional braided cornhusk moccasins in various sizes. 

Cornhusk doll making has been passed down through many generations on her maternal side. For many years, she has been sharing and teaching how to make Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls throughout Turtle Island with her family, the Iroquois Doll Makers. Scott has been making cornhusk dolls since she was a young girl and learned mainly from her (late) Grandmother, Lillian Kane.

Dean S. Seneca, MPH, MCURP, serves as the CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions+, a Public Health and Urban and Regional Planning LLC.  In this position, he provides capacity building assistance for tribal nations, states, regions, cities and territories in economic and community development that embraces the concepts of “healthy places for healthy people.”  Services provided include public health policy, program, training & science; strategic/master planning; community, economic development; grant writing; architectural site planning & building design; performance programing; health research; data collection & management; and program evaluation. Areas of health expertise include epidemiology, chronic and infectious diseases, emergency preparedness and response, environmental health, social determinants, and global health. Seneca holds an adjunct position at the University of Buffalo in the School of Public Health and Health Professions where he instructs a class on “Indigenous Health Disparities” and is considered a national subject matter expert.  Previously, he served as a senior health scientist in the Partnership Support Unit within the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  His main responsibilities were to build CDC’s national public health partners ability to provide greater capacity building assistance to state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments. Seneca has over 20 years of experience in the field of infectious disease outbreaks having been a first responder to Anthrax, H1N1, Ebola, Zika and now Covid-19.  Before arriving to CDC, he held the position of tribal planning director for the Seneca Nation of Indians.  He received both of his master’s degree(s) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Kenyon Serpas, BA is Tuscarora Nation, Bear Clan. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History. Kenyon will be continuing his education by pursuing a Master's in social studies education at UB. 

Gabriel Tallchief, BS is Seneca Nation, Bear Clan. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Gabe transferred to UB through SUNY Fredonia's cooperative engineering program. As a dedicated scholar, he has competed in multiple Society of Automotive Engineers design competitions during the 2023–2025 academic years. Gabriel also served as president of UB’s AISES chapter for the duration of his education at UB. He plans to pursue professional engineering licensure and build a career in the automotive or energy industries.

Maddie Tighe, BA is Seneca Nation, Turtle Clan.  She received her degree in Health & Human Services with a Community Mental Health Concentration and a minor in Indigenous Studies.  She is currently the Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Promotion (IHAWP) Program Coordinator at Native American Community Services.

Alyssa Warrior, BA is from the Seneca Nation with a degree in physics. She is continuing her education by pursuing a masters degree with the Department of Indigenous Studies.

Emily Weise, BA is from the Seneca Nation. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Health & Human Services Combined Early Childhood and Childhood Education with a minor in Indigenous Studies. Emily is a two-time scholarship award winner of the Carol S. Tempest Scholarship Fund. She graduated Magna Cum Laude. Emily is enrolled in the combined UB Teach program and will be continuing directly into my master’s program in Early Childhood and Childhood Education.