Board of Directors

The Southwest Native American Foundation's staff and board of directors is comprised of many dedicated volunteers. Our team cares deeply about the educational opportunities we strive to provide. The fact that none of us receive a salary means that 100% of donations made to SWNAF go directly to our scholars.

Brian Buckley

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Brian is the third of four children of Catherine and Paul Buckley. His parents’ commitment to their children’s education has led Brian down many wondrous paths. A graduate of Harvard College, he has since taught in Brooklyn, New York as New York City public school teacher; in Udon Thani, Thailand as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer; and in Page and Leupp, Arizona as a Northern Arizona Peace Corps Fellow. From 1999 to 2001, Brian served as a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University with Dr. Robert Coles for the class, The Literature of Social Reflection, where he received the Derek Bok Award for Distinguished Teaching. He has also received graduate degrees from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and the University of Massachusetts. Brian also serves on the Board for the SNAP Foundation based in Rochester, NY and the Americas Latino Festival based in Boulder, CO. Brian lives with his wife Katherine and daughters Norah, Clare, and Ruby.

Genevieve Bennally

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR & BOARD MEMBER
Genevieve Bennally is of the Towering House Clan, born for the Red Streak Through the Water Clan. Her maternal grandparents are Black Streak Through the Wood Clan, and her paternal grandparents are the Edgewater Clan. She was born and raised in Page, Arizona where she graduated from Page High School in 2002. Currently, she is a Junior at Northern Arizona University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Math. Her interests include an array of activities, from the outdoors to spending quality time with family. She enjoys reading a good book and spending hours over the hot stove for a great meal!

Katherine Hunter

BOARD MEMBER
Katherine Hunter was born in Toronto, Canada. She did her undergraduate and graduate work in the United States at Franklin & Marshall College, Northern Arizona University and the University of Massachusetts. Katherine’s interest in educational opportunities for all students contributes to SWNAF’s mission. Katherine has previous non-profit experience as a Board member of a Cancer Society focused on access to care and fundraising. In her free time, she enjoys playing backgammon, cooking for alternative diets, and exploring the outdoors with her family.

Ashley Holiday

BOARD MEMBER
Ashley Holiday is a Board member of Southwest Native-American Foundation (SWNAF) and a former scholarship recipient. She has a B.S. in Biology with a Biomedical Emphasis and Minor in Health Psychology from Dixie State University (DSU). Prior to joining SWNAF, Ashley has been actively involved on the DSU campus through student-based organizations that place emphasis on both Multiculturalism and Science/Technology. She served as a council member within the Multicultural & Inclusion Center where her essential goal was to improve inclusive training throughout campus. Ashley also assumed the role of Biology Senator within the Dixie State University Student Association which allowed her to actively assist research students in need of funding within the College of Science and Technology. Additionally, she participated in the Rural Health Scholars Organization where she not only attended a medical volunteer mission in Nicaragua but the Dominican Republic as well. In 2017, Ashley became the title holder of Miss Native Dixie; During her one year reign, she had the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for Native students to increase the overall Native population on DSU campus. As a current Pre-Med student, Ashley dedicates her time between working and studying to spending quality time with her family and embarking on outdoor adventures. ​

Yadira Caballero

​BOARD MEMBER
Yadira Caballero is of the Lók’aa’ Dine’é (Reed People Clan) born for the Naakaii (Mexican). Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Naasht'ézhí Tábąąhá (Zuni Edge Water Clan) and her paternal grandfather is Naakaii (Mexican). Caballero was born in Tuba City, Arizona and raised in Grand Canyon, Arizona. She has a seven-year-old daughter. Caballero is the daughter of Bertha Webb and Antonio Caballero. Her maternal grandparents were Helen Webb (from Cow Springs, Arizona) and Jeffery Webb (from Ts’ah Bii Kin (Inscription House), Arizona). Caballero has earned a Bachelor’s in Agribusiness Economics and Management from the University of Arizona and a Master’s in Jurisprudence in Indian Law from the University of Tulsa. She understands what it is like to face the challenges of college readiness, the financial stability and to overcome barriers as a first generation to attend college. She currently holds the position of a Program Coordinator, Sr. at the University of Arizona.

Mowana ​Lomaomvaya

BOARD MEMBER
Mowana L. Lomaomvaya is a member of the Hopi Tribe from the village of Hotevilla. She earned a Bachelor and Master of Arts in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology from Northern Arizona University. Lomaomvaya is currently pursuing a Master of Legal Studies with a concentration in Indigenous Peoples' Law and Policy at The University of Arizona.
Lomaomvaya specializes in examining the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and related repatriation policy and application. She focuses on analysis of the development indigenous rights and freedoms, and the evolution of NAGPRA since 1990. She specifically examines the overall success and difficulties that have emerged in applying NAGPRA at institutions across the United States, especially in terms of mitigating complex repatriations of culturally unidentifiable versus culturally identified individuals. Lomaomvaya’s concern resides in the archival records related to archaeological practice and repatriation, and how processes are documented in the archive. Her research and career are focused through her perspective as an indigenous person with close ties to her ancestors and ancestral homelands. Her connection to her culture and people are a driving force behind her dedication and passion to analyzing and critiquing NAGPRA in order to create solutions for increasingly expedient and effective return of all indigenous ancestors.